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1). Bargaining Power targeted to Markets: the dialogues resolved that Due to the marketing challenges that farmers are facing, they must establish strong group/s that shall have bargaining power in the market. In this regard, they will be able to obtain the most favorable prices, representation in marketing boards, lobby governments to enact policies that will allow participation of the private sector to alleviate price volatility. The capacity of farmer cooperatives should be strengthened so that they can deliver effective services to members including organizing collective access to inputs a... Read morend output markets for farmers. Government and development partners should provide infrastructure such as warehouses to support farmers' enterprise bargaining. 2). Agriculture Crop Insurance: The dialogue proposed for a system of risk and insurance sharing which might mitigate the consequences of adverse outcomes or might even allow traders to pursue higher returns but more risky activities. In the absence of formal institutions, proposing that social capital might play this role. 3). Governance of Farmer Organizations: As a matter of policy, the dialogue proposed that Agricultural policies should focus more on the intensification of the agriculture sector, empowering farmers’ organizations, and increase the market orientation of the smallholder farm sector, suggesting that ESNAU should be strengthened to assume this role effectively. Umbrella bodies such as ESNAU must take lead in providing governance mentorship and support to farmer organizations including farmer cooperatives. 4) Climate Change Research: The impacts of climate change on the food systems were observed. The dialogue realized that Climate change can affect food availability, access, utilization, and the stability of each of these over time. It was proposed that Research should take centre stage in unravelling the impacts of this phenomenon if the food system is to be sustained. 5). Access to Finance: In the discussions, finance was said to assume vital and significant importance in the agro–socio-economic development of agriculture both at macro and micro levels. Secondly, it was said to be playing a catalytic role in strengthening the farm business and augmenting the productivity of scarce resources. In a food system access to finance serves to initiate production and sustain the value chain. Financiers should provide farmer-friendly financing products. Government should establish an agriculture fund that will act as collateral for smallholder farmers. 6). Improve adoption, access and use of digital technology; The dialogue noted that today's agriculture routinely uses sophisticated technologies such as robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology. These advanced devices and precision agriculture and robotic systems allow businesses to be more profitable, efficient, safer, and more environmentally friendly. The government was therefore encouraged to promote these technologies through capacity building forums for Primary Producers. Producers are encouraged to adopt and make use of new technologies. 7). Agriculture Mechanization. The dialogue realized that primary producers in Eswatini are heterogeneous and that mechanization could be an answer to the problems faced by farmers; the dialogue understood that Mechanization covers all levels of farming and processing technologies, from simple and basic hand tools to more sophisticated and motorized equipment., this improves the efficient use of resources, enhances market access and contributes to mitigating climate-related hazards. 8) Promote agriculture in Schools and improve the curriculum- and strengthen Career Guidance; They understood that as long as there is not targeted career guidance for pupils taking agriculture subjects in schools the prospects of generating future farmers in bleak. There is a need to create an organization to advocate and advance the aspiration of agriculture students and guide their career paths. A youth wing under ESNAU can be created, to in the first place target schools. 9). Overgrazing and Land degradation: were serious issues for the dialogue, unit livestock agriculture requires massive amounts of land, food, energy, and water; results in polluted land, water, and air; and causes immense animal suffering. livestock production contributes to the world's most pressing environmental problems, including global warming, land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. The group proposed that farmers must keep the right livestock unit per area (proper Livestock Units). The ministry of agriculture must intensify educational programs. 10). Development and investment agencies could help in providing grants, funds for supporting agriculture projects. Donor funding could make a meaningful difference if they were to support the establishment of a Farmers Bank. Read less

The dialogue was centered around the following themes: 1). THEME: Advancing equity, openness, and fairness in the governance of value chains including in International trade. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Agree on three strategic interventions that would be necessary to address this by the producers themselves and other chain actors, as well as roles of research and policy in this regard. 2).THEME: Enhancing availability and Equitable access to factors of production. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: For each of the key factors of production, explore at least two ideas that will enhance available and equitable ac... Read morecess to primary producers, understanding that they are not a homogenous category. 3). THEME: The groups reviewed the status and level of adoption and scaling up of innovation and technology including digital technology. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Which areas/fields (maxim 5) of research and development/innovations present the greatest opportunities for transforming the lives of farmers and at scale? b) what should be the key principles underpinning the governance of data value chains be based on, particularly with respect to data generated by and from farmers? c) What factors and investments by the different ecosystem’s actors would enable wider adoptions within the shortest period of time- what are the low-hanging fruits? The role of the public and development sector in areas such as backbone infrastructure and capacity, as well as in digital literacy? 4). THEME: Strategic interventions that can increase the pace of involvement of a younger generation of Agri-preneurs in the food system. Delving on the strategies that can be undertaken to contribute towards this and Identify the younger generations' expectations from other ecosystem players. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Identify a maximum of 5 strategic interventions that can increase the pace and scale of the involvement of a younger generation of Agripreneurs. What can the younger generation undertake to contribute towards this, and what is it that they expect from other ecosystem players? 5). THEME: Shifting to sustainable and nature-positive production at scale. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: a) where are the low-hanging fruits in achieving significant shifts to nature positive production by farmers and at scale? What strategic (max 5) investments and infrastructure will be needed to take farmers on a sustainable and scalable nature positive production trajectory in the medium term? What will be the responsibility of farmers in advancing this, and what would they expect from other systems actors, including consumers? Also, consider the role of the public and development sector in de-risking and funding the transitional period. 6). THEME: Priorities for Public and Development sector investments. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: a) Which areas for public sector investments lend themselves to catalyzing the transformation of primary production at scale both in the short and medium-term and similarly for the development sector? (maximum 3 each). Identify a maximum of 5 policy proposals/ideas that you would consider game-changing in transforming the primary production at scale (consider also the role of public and development sector funding in de-risking the transition towards more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food systems. Read less