Quelimane, Mozambique (11 June 2025) — Mozambique is taking steps toward a more market-responsive approach to rice breeding, focusing on varieties that meet the needs of farmers, consumers, and the wider rice value chain.
At a recent national workshop, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in partnership with the Mozambique Institute of Agricultural Research (IIAM), convened the Mozambique Rice Product Design Team (PDT) to review and validate the country’s rice market segments and Target Product Profiles (TPPs). These outputs will guide national breeding investments and support the development of rice varieties that are more likely to be adopted and valued.
Opening the workshop, IRRI Country Representative Dr. Alexis Ndayiragije stressed the importance of aligning breeding strategies with national goals and market demand.
“Market-led breeding starts with listening to farmers, traders, millers, and consumers, and co-designing products that serve their needs,” he said.
Mr. Abade Herminio, Lead of Rice Breeding at IIAM, outlined Mozambique’s broader strategy to boost productivity and reduce dependence on imports.
“With the right innovations and partnerships, Mozambique can harness its agricultural potential to become a regional leader in rice production,” he said.
The workshop featured plenary and breakout sessions where participants reviewed and validated market segments using IRRI’s regional product profile framework, adapted to Mozambique’s agroecological zones and market conditions.
Team working on Rice Target Product Profiles for Mozambique in Zambezia/Quelimane.
Through a participatory process, the team finalized national rice market segments and TPPs that prioritize traits such as grain quality, stress tolerance, maturity period, and yield potential. These will be formally endorsed by IRRI and IIAM and will serve as a strategic roadmap for the national rice breeding program.
“This inclusive approach ensures that breeding targets are not only scientifically sound but also demand-driven,” said Dr. Lennin Musundire, Breeding Optimization Specialist at CGIAR’s Accelerated Breeding - Transform/ Enable.
The PDT initiative is part of IRRI’s work under the CGIAR Breeding for Tomorrow (B4T) Science Program through its Accelerated Breeding and Enable areas of work. The program aims to drive productivity, increase varietal adoption, and support more resilient and farmer-focused food systems by embedding market insights into breeding pipelines across Africa and Asia.