The Mozambican government is targeting an end to vegetable imports by late 2027, a goal that hinges on the construction of a new provincial wholesale market in Maputo, which officials consider essential to boosting the commercialisation of domestic agricultural output.
The announcement was made by Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Roberto Albino during a working visit to Gaza Province, where he said the government intends to put all necessary conditions in place to meet the deadline.
‘By the end of 2027, all conditions must be in place so that we can officially decree the end of imports,’ Albino stated.
During a meeting with local producers, the minister said the government will also work with the Mukheristas association — a grouping of informal cross-border importers — to restructure the supply model, enabling its members to source vegetables produced domestically instead. ‘Because we do not want to send money abroad in this process,’ he said.
Albino attributed the policy shift to rising production capacity among Mozambican farmers, arguing the country already has the potential to supply the domestic market. He nonetheless stressed that the construction of the provincial wholesale market remains the principal condition for bringing the end of imports forward.
‘Given the major project our governor has presented to us — the construction of a provincial wholesale market in Maputo — this is the only element preventing me from declaring the end of imports sooner, because it is a very important condition for the functioning of the market,’ the minister said.
According to Albino, the new infrastructure will improve the distribution of domestic produce, ensuring that goods reach major consumption centres and reducing reliance on imports.
Beyond the wholesale market, the minister identified the rehabilitation of irrigation systems damaged by flooding during the 2025-26 rainy season as a priority, alongside the construction of new infrastructure in key agricultural production zones to strengthen the sector’s productive capacity.
Climate risks continue to pose a significant threat to the agricultural outlook. According to a report by independent international organisation ACAPS, Mozambique is among the countries most exposed to humanitarian impacts from the El Niño phenomenon, whose influence is expected to persist until March 2027.
The report warns that the continued effects of El Niño could worsen food insecurity, water scarcity, malnutrition, and healthcare needs across the country. A separate report by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) estimates that nearly two million Mozambicans could require food assistance between December 2026 and January 2027, due to the combined effects of armed conflict, flooding, and adverse climatic conditions.
Source: Diário Económico
