Despite the fact that 57% of Mozambicans over 10 years old work in agriculture and livestock production, there are very few medium sized farms. Ninety-nine percent of the country’s holdings represent small farms, with average size of just 1.68 hectares. Nampula and Zambezia provinces account for 43% of all of Mozambique’s small and medium holdings, and since 2002 the percentage of farms over 3 ha has actually decreased.
CLUSA Mozambique currently supports 20 selected small farmers in the Nampula, Zambezia and Tete provinces, helping them increase their production to become successful, medium sized farmers. The goal in Mozambique strives toward developing a solid platform for future agricultural development.
Sr. Jacinto, Emergent Farmer
Sr. Costa Jacinto was one of 20 small-scale farmers selected in 2008 to take part in the Emergent Farmers program in Nampula. Sr. Jacinto used to farm 4 ha of land, earning on average US$400 per year. He became involved in the program due to his potential to manage his finances, expand the area under production, adopt new technologies and mentor other farmers.
Lack of financing is one of the most fundamental limiting factors to small holder growth, affecting investments in inputs, land preparation and farm labor. CLUSA assisted Sr. Jacinto to access a production bank loan from Banco Terra, allowing him to open a bank account, and he receives advice from the CLUSA mentor on budgets, production technology, forecasting, yield estimates, crop input supply planning, and labour planning. Important market linkages connect him to trading/supply companies such as IKURU.
With assistance from CLUSA and the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Sr. Jacinto now farms 42 ha. Technical support and mentoring from CLUSA are enabling him to produce an expected 22,700 kg this year, worth 269,100 meticais or US$9,785. With higher income he can send his children to school, care for family members who fall ill, expand his production area and buy inputs for next season.
The project taught Sr. Jacinto techniques to mentor other farmers in his community in utilizing technology to increase their own production.
The Bigger Picture
- The 20 selected producers in Nampula province now farm a total of 400 ha of land and have received in total 1,576,940 meticais in credit.
- Emerging Farmers expect to sell 2,805,516 meticais worth of produce in 2009.
- CLUSA expanded this model with 15 emergent farmers in Gurue (Zambezia province) in 2008/09.
- CLUSA intends to extend the project to over 90 producers in 2010, and to a predicted 400 emergent farmers with a total of 11,840 collaborating farmers (those mentored by the Emergent Farmers) by the end of the five year project.
- The success of this program will demonstrate to other farmers, government, bankers, buyers and input suppliers that it is possible to become a successful medium sized farmer.
