Overview

Mozambique is an East African country with a rapidly growing agriculture sector. Rice is a socioeconomically essential crop, with its annual domestic consumption (8.6%) overtaking other cereals. Because of this, the Government of Mozambique identified rice as one of its priority crops under their Strategic Plan for Agricultural Development (PEDSA). They also made it a priority to develop the rice sector under the National Agriculture Investment Plan (PNISA).

Around 97.7% of rice in Mozambique is grown mostly by smallholder farmers from the provinces of Sofala, Zambézia, Nampula, and Cabo Delgado. However, irrigation is more common in Gaza, Maputo, and some parts of Sofala and Zambézia. The potential land area for cultivation across the country stands at around 900,000 ha which is significantly higher than the actual area used which is at about 310,000 ha.

The government priorities involve the research and development of high-yielding rice varieties which can adapt to both irrigated and rainfed lowland ecosystems, as well as the dissemination of improved rice production technologies. This includes the promotion and use of certified seeds and fertilizers, building capacity for seed quality control, and the establishment of rice seed information system. Mechanization and post-harvest technologies will also be promoted and the extension and maintenance of irrigation schemes across the rice-producing provinces.

These are all done to address the rice production gap and lower imports by increasing the average rice productivity from 1.6t/ha to 4.2 t/ha by 2030, creating incentives to be involved in the intensification of rice production, and reducing post-harvest losses from 40% to 15%.

IRRI is working with Mozambique Institute of Agricultural Research (IIAM) to improve agricultural competitiveness based on sustainability and resilience. Since the country is mired with the impacts of climate change such as drought, cyclones, and droughts, IRRI aims to contribute to smallholder farmers’ climate resilience through the delivery of improved salinity- and submergence-tolerant rice varieties. IRRI is also working with public and private sector partners, as well as NARES, to deliver nutritious, marketpreferred, high-yielding rice seeds, all while ensuring equitable access for women and other marginalized groups in the country.