MOZAMBIQUE AND FAO
PARTNERING TO ACHIEVE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
GOALS
Mozambique became an FAO member in 1977, and a country representation was opened in Maputo in
1979. Since then, Mozambique and FAO have been working closely to improve nutrition and eradicate
hunger; develop policy and institutional reforms; promote sustainable agricultural production and
natural resources management practices; and support disaster risk reduction and climate change
adaptation. Gender and nutrition issues are addressed in all areas of current cooperation.
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS IN Matching FAO’s expertise to
MOZAMBIQUE
Mozambique development priorities
FAO assistance in Mozambique is shaped by the
2016‑2020 FAO Country Programming Framework
Established in 1979, the FAO Representation in (CPF), which is centered on three priority areas:
Mozambique is pleased to be celebrating its ➨➨ Improve selected value chains for food and
40th anniversary. nutrition security, through policy development
and frameworks, improved technologies and
market participation, as well as strategies related
Facing emergencies to plant and animal health, food safety and quality
and value chain improvement.
Flooding caused by Cyclone Idai in March 2019 and
➨➨ Ensure transparent and sustainable
Cyclone Kenneth in April 2019, has left devastating loss of management of natural resources and the
life and large‑scale destruction of assets and environment, through best practice governance
infrastructure in its wake. For a country where 80 percent of natural resources for a more sustainable
of the population depends on agriculture, keeping management of the environment.
animals alive, rehabilitating damaged land and rebooting ➨➨ Increase the resilience of livelihoods to climate
food production is of paramount importance. change, threats and crises, by improving
risk reduction, resilience and climate change
FAO and WFP are co-leading the Food Security and adaptation.
Livelihoods Cluster with FAO taking the lead on the
agriculture component. The immediate objective of the Jointly formulated with the Government and other
partners, the CPF reflects relevant priorities in
Cluster is to resume local food production by assisting
key national development policies, including the
fishing communities and supporting livestock owners. Government Five Year Programme (PQG) and
Key interventions include: the provision of agricultural the Strategic Plan for the Development of the
inputs through electronic voucher and direct distribution Agricultural Sector (PEDSA). The CPF is fully aligned
of seeds, fertilizers and planting material; the provision of with the UN Development Assistance Framework
livestock and veterinary support; and the rehabilitation of for Mozambique and is part of the Regional Initiative
rural assets and infrastructure. 2: Sustainable Production Intensification and Value
Chain Development in Africa.
CONTACT
Mr Hernani COELHO DA SILVA
FAO Representative in Mozambique
FAO Representation
Rua de Mukumbura 285, Bairro da Polana Cimento
Maputo, Mozambique
Tel.: +258 21 491136; +258 21 498541
©FAO
E-mail: [email protected]
MOZAMBIQUE AND FAO
Boosting access to agricultural inputs Promoting aquaculture
through e-vouchers In Mozambique, overall aquaculture production has
The FAO e-voucher system is benefiting about 23 000 declined over the last decade, mainly due to high
farmers in Mozambique, leading to significant changes in production costs and poor production techniques.
people’s lifestyle. To counter this trend, FAO initiatives are being
implemented in the country, promoting fish farming as a
The e-voucher system is a flexible market development source of employment and livelihoods.
tool that allows farmers to buy certain types of inputs from
agro-dealers that accept the e-vouchers as partial payment. Traditionally, the Mozambican aquaculture sector
Agro-dealers redeem the e-vouchers based on a settlement has been comprised of many small-scale extensive
report that is produced every two weeks by the system. To fish farms. Production
avoid market distortions, prices of the inputs available at the is mainly destined for
“We cannot improve
agro-dealer’s shops are in line with the prevalent market consumption by the
nutrition without
prices in the region. fish farmers and their
families, with some improving food security,
Within the programme, agro-dealers are able to provide surplus sold, generally and we cannot achieve
inputs to beneficiaries, especially during times of greater close to the village. Inland food security without
demand. Most of the beneficiaries are also members of the aquaculture production in making better food
Farmer Field Schools (FFS) where they learn and put into Mozambique is currently systems.”
practice new cultivation techniques and test new varieties of low, estimated to total FAO Director-General
crops, among other activities. some 200 tonnes of fish
As part of the Millennium Development Goal 1c per year.
sub‑programme (MDG1c) funded by the European Union, The FAO project ‘’Development support to commercial
FAO and the Government of Mozambique have noticed aquaculture in Inhambane Province of Mozambique’’
that smallholder farmers have the greatest motivation for has helped improve technical equipment for increased
financial mechanisms that help them afford agricultural production.
inputs, aiming to increase the number of farmers who transit
from subsistence to commercial farming. Thanks to this initiative, Piagropecus technicians had
the opportunity to learn and improve their aquaculture
techniques and business skills, including breeding,
Facing climate change grow-out, green water culture, feed management and
New practices for improving food production farm management. In addition, training has been
delivered to approximately 100 small-scale fish farmers
For many Mozambican farmers, improving incomes is in the districts of Zavala, Panda and Inhambane, and
a challenge. Some traditional farming methods, such as to 35 extension workers from the Ministry of the Sea,
planting the same crops in the same area year after year, Inland Waters and Fisheries.
have impoverished soil fertility. In addition, dry and
hot periods are becoming more frequent and rain has Project beneficiaries recognized that training, combined
06/2019/2
become irregular. with on-farm support, has contributed to improve
technical aspects as well as operational procedures. With
An FAO GEF-funded project is working with the this initiative, some were able to start fish farming as a
Government of Mozambique to help farmers increase business.
agricultural production through the introduction of
improved agricultural practices.
In Farmer Field Schools (FFS), farmers are learning
improved agricultural practices, such as the consociation
of maize and pulses crops, the use of organic compound,
Integrated Pest Management (IPM), conservation
agriculture and other diversification practices. In
the first agriculture season of 2017-2018, around 28
FFS members were trained in practices, options and
measures for climate change adaptation, as well as
agriculture conservation practices. The application of
these new practices has led to increased production and
yields.
©FAO
