An Assessment of Local Communities’ Willingness to Upscale and Diversify Sisal Production in Eswatini: A Case of Ekupheleni Chiefdom

Sinenhlanhla Mbalenhle Motsa1, Saico Sibusiso Singwane1*, Ian Besman van Zuydam1 and Sipho Felix Mamba1
1Department of Geography, Environmental Science and Planning, University of Eswatini Private Bag 4 Kwaluseni, Eswatini
DOI – http://doi.org/10.37502/IJSMR.2025.8203

Full Text – PDF

Abstract

This study assesses the willingness of local communities to upscale and diversify sisal production in the Kingdom of Eswatini, using Ekupheleni chiefdom as a case study. The study investigated the knowledge level that community members have on Sisal production as well the willingness to upscale and diversify sisal production. A cross-sectional research design was employed in the study. Data was collected through in-depth interviews administered to 200 conveniently selected heads of households and 32 participants in the Sisal industry, whose list was provided by the Home Economics Department in the Ministry of Agriculture. Furthermore, data was collected through key informant interviews from four extension officers from the Department of Home Economics in the Ministry of Agriculture as well as through direct observation of the community. The data was entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and presented using frequency tables and graphs. The data was analysed using cross-tabulation and STATA version 12 to build regression models. The findings indicate that heads of households and participants in the Sisal industry held traditional forms of knowledge passed from generation to generation; participants were willing to upscale and diversify Sisal production.

Keywords: Sisal production, up-scaling and diversifying, industry, Ekupheleni chiefdom, participants.

References