The government is drawing up a strategy to strengthen the competitiveness of the coffee sector, with the aim of improving the value chain and establishing more accurate statistics for the planning and production of this crop in the country, the newspaper Notícias reported on Tuesday 10 December.
According to the newspaper, the head of the Rural Technologies Department at the National Directorate for Local Economic Development, Tiago Luís, revealed that ‘the plan will operationalise investments in the coffee sub-sector, responding to producers’ demands for greater clarity and organisation in the area’. The initiative has the support of international bodies, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
The strategy is part of a larger project for the inclusive and sustainable development of agro-value chains in Mozambique, reinforcing the role of coffee as a strategic crop. The country’s accession to the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) around a year ago was also highlighted as a milestone to facilitate access to technical assistance and expand its presence in global markets.
Coffee production in Mozambique is currently concentrated in the provinces of Manica, Sofala and Cabo Delgado. The aim is to transform the sector into an industry capable of generating foreign currency and improving the lives of producers, while positioning the country as an important player on the international market.
During the International Coffee Day celebrations, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the importance of coffee growing in economic diversification and increasing exports was reinforced. With the new strategy, the country is expected to achieve higher levels of competitiveness and sustainability in the sector.
