Strengthening Small-Scale Food Producers in Mozambique
Small-scale food producers face many challenges, including limited access to quality seeds and plants, vulnerability to diseases and aflatoxin contamination, and dependence on selling crops to middlemen who often undermine their income. By addressing these issues, we aim to create robust income opportunities and improve the overall resilience of these agricultural communities.
This initiative is a continuation and expansion of previous work in Nampula, which empowered producers to participate in formal markets by organizing into cooperatives. The scope will be extended to include producers in the Zambezia and Niassa provinces, where the need is critical—over 90% of rural inhabitants live in poverty, and many face acute food insecurity.
Goal
Our main goal is to increase sustainable income for small-scale food producers in Northern Mozambique by creating professional cooperatives capable of meeting quality standards and production requirements for export markets for cashews and peanuts. We aim to organize 11,500 small-scale food producers into cooperatives, including 30 women-based and 12 youth cooperatives, and establish 130 local nurseries.
About the project
Building Cooperative Capacity: We will strengthen cooperatives to provide the necessary inputs, tools, and services to improve production, productivity, and market access.
Training and Support: We will offer training in agronomic techniques, aggregation, and value chain processes to ensure high-quality production and minimize losses.
Market Access: We will facilitate stable connections to regional and international markets for cashews and peanuts. Support the cooperative network with the establishment of delivery contracts and assist them with digital solutions for tracking and coordinating production volumes.
Infrastructure Investment: Establish micro-warehouses and provide transport solutions to address logistical challenges.
Empowering Women and Youth: We will engage 5,750 female small-scale food producers and establish youth cooperatives to ensure inclusive growth and development.