FAO GIEWS Country Brief on Eswatini –

FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT Erratic rainfall curbs 2026 cereal production Maize import requirements expected to rise moderately in 2025/26 Food inflation eases on lower cereal prices Acute food insecurity expected to deteriorate in 2026/27 Erratic rainfall curbs 2026 cereal production Harvesting of the 2026 maize crop concluded in June and production is estimated at about 70 000 tonnes, a below‑average level and about 6 percent lower year on year. The reduced output largely reflects the impact of irregular rainfall, notably periods of heavy rainfall in January as well as around the harvest period in March and April. The heavy rain caused waterlogging and contributed to curbing yields, offsetting an increase in the area planted. The 2025 outbreak of foot‑and‑mouth disease (FMD), the first reported case since 2000, caused extensive disruption to the livestock sector. Movement controls were imposed and exports suspended, notably to the European Union, an important external market. In response, the government launched a nationwide vaccination campaign and, as of July 2026, over 80 percent (approximately 454 000 cattle) of the national cattle herd had been vaccinated. By late July, the government announced that there were no active FMD cases , pending formal recognition by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) of FMD ‑ free status ; a WOAH technical team visited the country in July, and in addition to assessing the situation provided guidance on control measures that aim to facilitate access to international markets. Planting of the 2027 maize crop is expected to begin in October, and the prevailing El Niño event poses a downside risk to production through an increased likelihood of drier‑than‑average conditions during the main 2026/27 cropping season. If the onset of seasonal rains is delayed, residual soil moisture from the relatively wet 2025/26 cropping season could partly cushion the initial impacts. Nevertheless, prolonged dry‑weather conditions would remain a