Collaborative Ginger and Turmeric Value-Addition Initiative
LUYENGO, 11 JUNE 2026 – The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Luyengo Campus recently hosted the historic launch and MoU signing ceremony for the Collaborative Ginger and Turmeric Value-Addition Initiative.
This landmark partnership connects UNESWA, Universitas Airlangga (Indonesia), and Royal Tirta Ayu SPA to position Eswatini as a hub for sustainable agro-industrial innovation. Graced by His Excellency, the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Russell Mmiso Dlamini, the event highlighted a structural shift toward transforming students from job seekers into enterprise builders.
To combat the country’s 25%–30% graduate unemployment rate, this initiative directly equips students with end-to-end value-chain skills by training them to process raw crops into premium cosmetics and teas. This impact extends far beyond the classroom into the grassroots bioeconomy, directly linking UNESWA’s cutting-edge university research and high-quality inputs to local smallholders and rural women farmers. Furthermore, the collaboration injects a vital global dimension into the university’s research ecosystem through international exchange opportunities and a generous cultivation tunnel donation from our international partners.
“We are not just cultivating ginger and turmeric—we are cultivating hope, prosperity, and resilience for Eswatini.” — Professor Justice M. Thwala, Vice Chancellor.