Mozambique: transformation of small-scale farm industry results in promising rice crop production

'This project is stimulating the production of cash crops such as cashew nuts in their natural habitats, in response to the Mozambique Development Agenda. The project helps to guarantee the subsistence of the farmers,' Joao Sambo, the project's coordinator stated.

With available resources, the project has also managed to finance the construction of nearly 90km of feeder roads and, provided access to markets. In addition, farmers have increased the size of their pastoral lands by over 16,000 ha, and available farmland for cash crops - rice and vegetables - by 3,050hectares, with a sharp increase of annual produce of 6,000 tonnes, up from 2400 tonnes.

SLWRMP's success has also resulted in the establishment of 56 small sprinkler irrigation systems in 56 communities with a total irrigation capacity of 360 ha; the construction of 12 boreholes that have increased access to potable water and the reduction of distances from the community to the water source..

And it doesn't end there. Other ripple benefits include the construction of 21 small dams, which has increased access to potable water for about 18,375 people and 24,234 cattle, reducing the number of livestock deaths and leading to the diversification of the diet of the communities.

As part of the project, 290 ha out of an expected 1500ha have been reforested so far.

But it is the project's beneficiaries who are its greatest champions.