EU to support another 10,000 Mozambican farmers in grain production

The European Union (EU) will support another 10,000 Mozambican farmers to produce cereals for the country to cope with the global food crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.

This measure will be the result of the allocation of 15 million euros to the Promove AgriBiz program celebrated this Friday in Maputo.

“The funds will allow, starting this growing season, to expand our current support to more farmers, helping them produce more and more and in a more sustainable way so that they can withstand future crises and, especially this year, mitigate the impact. the impact of a sharp increase in production costs,” said Antonino Maggiore, EU Ambassador to Mozambique.

Promove AgriBiz already supports 22,000 farmers and the boost announced this Friday means a 45% increase.

The diplomat spoke at the signing ceremony of a support agreement in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Mozambique Institute of Cereals (ICM).

“The new funds allocated will help create a strategic food reserve in line with the mandate of the ICM. The goal is to support the production of 16,000 tons of corn and 4,000 tons of beans,” the EU said in a statement.

The aid is part of the €23 million announced in September for Mozambique, as part of the European Development Fund’s €600 million global package for food and production assistance in the most vulnerable African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

In Mozambique, the EU expects that disruptions in the production and trade of grains and fertilizers will lead to shortages and likely higher prices, negatively impacting the food security of the poorest.

Subsistence agriculture is the main source of food for most of Mozambique’s population, which is currently estimated at around 31.6 million, about half of whom are under 18 years of age.