Livestock production and processing leads to increased off-take of cattle, and increased production of dairy and poultry production to meet market demand and reduce reliance on imports (19).

Systematic grazing practices from organized livestock production and processing leads to improved land management and prevention of land degradation due to overgrazing (19).

Livestock production and processing results in improved quality and condition of livestock produce due to good breeding and selection practices and improved participation of smallholder producers in the value chain (14, 19).

If not managed sustainably, livestock production may place increasing strains on already limited water resources, increase agro-chemical pollution and lead to overgrazing and loss of biodiversity (24).

There is a risk of excluding smallholder farmers from the profitable roles in livestock value chain unless they are explicitly included in the supply chain of production and processing plants.

Quality standard requirements and high costs associated with acquiring livestock export licenses may exclude smallholder producers from catering to international markets.

Increase competitiveness and sustainability of the livestock sector for greater economic activities especially in rural areas.

Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Plan, 2018- 2023: Livestock, specifically livestock value chains, is identified as a strategic subsector in the ministry's strategic plan (5).

Swaziland National Agricultural Investment Plan (SNAIP), 2015: Increasing livestock production and strengthening value chains are highlighted as key strategies in SNAIP for developing the sector (4).

Eswatini Zero Hunger Strategic Review, 2020: An increase in smallholder livestock productivity and their inclusion in the food system is highlighted as a key strategic pillar to reduce poverty and address existing inequalities (7).

Financial incentives: Dairy processing and promotion of milk production for a total investment of E 130 million (USD 8.3 million) is listed among the planned manufacturing projects in the Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan (3).

Fiscal incentives: The Development Approval Order (DOA) Income Tax Order including corporate tax reduction reaching 10% for ten years, and exemption for withholding tax on dividends includes investments in manufacturing, including livestock production and dairy processing (32).

Other incentives: Small Enterprise Development Company (SEDCO) through the financial assistance of E 2.2 million (USD 146,000) by the African Union Development Agency and the Spanish government operationalized a women-owned chicken abattoir processing plant in Shiselweni under the Business Incubator for African Women Entrepreneurs (BIAWE) project (33). BIAWE targets 145 African women entrepreneurs from COMESA Member States, including 50 incubatees in agro-processing and poultry processing in Eswatini (37).

Livestock Identification Act, 2001: Oversees the registration of livestock identification marks and the compulsory marking of livestock with registered livestock identification; an amendment on the law is underway (4).

Commercialization of Agriculture Land Bill, 2019: Aims to increase the number of farmers with formal ownership and titles of the land for advancing commercial agriculture for livestock and conventional crops (31).

Veterinary Public Health Act, 2013: Ensures provision of high level consumer protection with regard to food safety by facilitating advanced methods of primary production in the food chain of food of animal origin (4) .

Parmalat, Gege Farm, Old Mutual, Swaziland Meat Industries, Esus Farm, Africa Chicks, Swazi Milk, Lactalis, Feed Master Swaziland, ENAU, Standard bank, Fincorp, Swazi Bank, Ludwala Insurance company, Cimbresh Investments.

Ministry of Agriculture, National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard), Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (ESWADE).

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), European Union (EU), EUROPEAID.