Sustenta project leverages agriculture

President Filipe Nyusi says that national farmers have already adopted the government’s approach to reaching the “Zero Hunger” target by 2030, and that Mozambicans must believe in eliminating rice imports. The head of state was speaking in Zambézia province last Saturday after visiting Sustenta Project rice, corn and vegetable production units, and stressed that irrigation should be the focus of farmers who intend to produce for the market. Filipe Nyusi said the Sustenta program should leverage the agricultural sector in the country, and that farmers have already understood the approach towards achieving the “Zero Hunger” goal, regardless of the desired result being achieved or not.

“We have to believe in the Sustenta project, although we know that it could fail, as any project could. Our concern is to ensure that it does not fail. To that end, it is necessary to believe in the process. Many rice producers believe in Sustenta, and are taking it seriously,” he said. Asked whether Mozambique was in a position to stop importing rice, Nyusi said that rice production is ongoing in the district of Chókwè, in Gaza, and in other regions of the country with rice fields.

After wheat, rice is, at 300,000 tons (worth about US$200 million), the country’s second most-imported product. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Celso Correia, who was part of the delegation visiting Zambézia, said the strengthening of mechanisation could make this five-year period historic in terms of rice production. “We want to declare an end to rice imports within this five-year period. 

This year, we will launch the national rice production program in Zambézia,” which will be“ the main force behind the transformation we intend”. The government is currently short of 300 tractors for the Sustenta Project, but Celso Correia says that, because of demand, the shortfall could exceed 2,000 tractors in the coming months. Mozambique imports at least 100 tractors – with attendant agricultural implements – annually. Mechanised agriculture is increasing, despite the shortages. One solution could be a tractor assembly plant in the country, Minister Correia hypothesises.

“The indicator determining the dynamics of the sector is the growth that we will register this year. If Mozambique manages to surpass 5% growth, we will attract more investment, and we will feel that there is the belief, and a new dynamic,” Minister Correia says.