MOZAMBIQUE- GOVT PRESENTS PROSAVANNA PROJECT

The Mozambican
government on Tuesday in
Maputo gave a public
presentation on the Programme
of Triangular Cooperation for
Developing Agriculture in the
Tropical Savannahs of
Mozambique (ProSavana).
The coordinator of ProSavana,
Calisto Bias, told journalists that
the project would contribute
greatly to food security and
diversification in the Nacala
Corridor, covering the provinces
of Cabo Delgado, Zambezia,
Nampula and Niassa.
ProSavana is part of the
government's 2011-2020
Strategic Plan for the
Development of the Agricultural
Sector (PEDSA). Its main
objectives are to increase
productivity, ensure access to
markets, use natural resources in
a sustainable manner and
strengthen the business skills of
farmers.
The project has three
components: ProSavana - PI
(research project) that began in
April 2011 and lasts until March
2016; ProSavana - PD (master
plan) running from March 2012
until 2014; and ProSavana - PEM
(extension and design) taking
place between May 2012 and
May 2019.
ProSavana - PI will strengthen the
capacity of the experimental
stations of Mozambique's
Agricultural Research Institute
(IIAM) in Lichinga and Nampula;
assess the impact of introducing
new agricultural technologies on
natural resources and the
environment; develop
technologies to improve soils;
and develop technologies for
crop and livestock production.
ProSavana - PD will develop a
master plan to contribute to
social and economic
development by engaging private
investment to promote
sustainable production systems
and poverty reduction.
Targeting small and medium
scale farmers, it aims to increase
productivity, production and
diversification; and develop
marketing, processing and the
supply of inputs to increase
agricultural products for the
financial benefit of farmers.
ProSavana - PD covers 19
districts: Monapo, Muecate,
Meconta, Nampula, Mogovolas,
Murrupula, Mecubure, Ribaue,
Lalaua and Malema in Nampula
Province; Cuamba, Mecanhelas,
Madimba, Ngauma, Lichinga,
Majune and Sanga in Niassa
Province; and Gurue and Alto
Molocue in Zambezia Province.
ProSavana - PEM will increase
production of various crops by
adopting new agricultural
development models in the
target areas.
According to Calisto Bias, the
geography of the Nacala Corridor
provides an exceptional potential
for agricultural production. He
stressed that this must be done
in a sustainable manner to
guarantee self-sufficiency in food
production and income
generation.
Currently, land use in the region
is characterised by low
productivity small scale
subsistence farming; increasing
population density putting
pressure on traditional framing
practices; and the collection of
wood for charcoal production.
ProSavana is financed by the
governments of Mozambique
and Japan. It will use technology
developed in Brazil.