Mozambique has reached what the government calls a ‘historic milestone’ in the agricultural sector, with exports growing 33 per cent between 2020 and 2024 and surpassing the 63.2 billion meticals milestone (around one billion dollars) for the first time.
This performance marks an ‘important step forward’ for the country’s agriculture and economy, as emphasised by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Celso Correia, during the Ministry’s 5th Coordinating Council, held in Maputo.
At the event, he emphasised that this increase in exports reflects the ongoing efforts to develop agriculture. ‘Investments in strategic crops have allowed us not only to improve food security levels, but also to raise agricultural exports to historic levels, surpassing the one billion dollar mark for the first time in our history.’
During the implementation cycle of the Government’s Five-Year Programme (PQG) 2020-24, the agri-livestock sector recorded significant growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), rising from 1.2% in 2019 to 5.7% in 2024, according to the outlook of the National Statistics Institute (INE).
This growth was driven by the expansion of small and large farms, an increase in the use of certified seeds and fertilisers and higher productivity in the main crops.
Advances in Crop and Livestock Production
Among the most notable advances was a 37 per cent increase in cereal production, a 65 per cent increase in legume production and a 46 per cent increase in oilseed production. Fruit production, especially bananas, also grew significantly, from 258,000 tonnes to 371,000 tonnes.
In the livestock sector, there was a 22% increase in cattle numbers, which reached 2.4 million head in 2024, and chicken production reached 152,000 tonnes, positioning Mozambique as the second largest producer in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The Sustenta programme, launched by the government, was essential in boosting the agricultural sector, promoting the use of fertilisers and certified seeds, which helped to increase productivity. ‘The growth in production was accompanied by an increase in the productivity of the main crops, such as maize, which went from 803 kg/ha to 967 kg/ha, and beans, from 466 kg/ha to 555 kg/ha,’ said Correia.
Projections for the 2024-25 Agricultural Campaign
For the 2024-25 agricultural campaign, the government is projecting additional growth of 5 per cent in the agri-livestock sector, with the aim of consolidating agriculture as the driving force behind the country’s economic stability.
‘It is in this spirit of optimism, with favourable winds, that we are projecting 5% growth for the next agricultural campaign, leading the agricultural sector to the position of main pillar of economic stability that every Mozambican yearns for,’ concluded the minister.
Germano Ndlovo
