The Mozambican government is targeting a tripling of cotton production — from the current 20,000 to 60,000 tonnes per year — through a newly approved regulatory framework for the sector. The measure, passed at the 26th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers, is also projected to generate more than 105 million meticais (approximately €1.4 million) in additional fiscal revenue.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, 1 September, by Council of Ministers spokesperson Inocêncio Impissa at the conclusion of the session held in Maputo. According to Impissa, the Cabinet approved the Cotton Crop Regulation with the explicit objective of reversing the sharp decline in output recorded over recent years.
Cotton production in Mozambique fell from a peak of 180,000 tonnes in 2011 and 2012 to the current level of 20,000 tonnes — a contraction of approximately 90%. The collapse has also weighed heavily on employment across the sector, prompting the government to seek a full recovery of the production chain and a restoration of export earnings from cotton fibre and its by-products.
To reverse this trajectory, the new regulation establishes rules governing the promotion, production, commercialisation, transport, storage, offloading, export, and import of cotton. The government intends the framework to improve the regulatory environment, strengthen transparency across the value chain, and stimulate private investment in the sector.
With the revised regulatory structure in place, the government expects to raise annual output to an average of 60,000 tonnes and generate approximately US$65 million in export revenues. The measure is also projected to increase fiscal receipts by more than 105 million meticais (€1.4 million) and recover around 50% of the jobs lost in the sub-sector.
'The expectation now is, in fact, to reclaim Mozambique's position in cotton production,' Impissa said. The spokesperson added that the strategy also includes provisions for the protection and recognition of smallholder farmers and companies operating across the production chain.
At the same ordinary session, the government approved the new Fisheries Policy and Implementation Strategy 2026–45. The instrument aims to increase production and value generated by the sector through sustainable resource management, aquaculture development, infrastructure improvement, and enhanced inspection and training frameworks.
According to Impissa, fisheries currently account for approximately 0.5% of gross domestic product, with the figure occasionally reaching 1.5% — a contribution the government considers well below the country's potential. Around 400,000 households depend on fishing activity, which the government intends to strengthen as a source of food security, employment, income, and export revenue, with an emphasis on sustainable practices across the entire value chain.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/02/negocios/agronegocios/governo-quer-aumentar-producao-de-algodao-para-60-mil-toneladas-anuais/
