The Mozambican government has warned of a worsening situation regarding agricultural pests during the 2025–26 farming season, as the sector faces increasing pressure from climate change, the expansion of international trade, and greater movement of people and goods.
The alert was issued on Tuesday (12) in Maputo by the Secretary of State for Land and Environment, Gustavo Dgedge, during the opening of the National Plant Health Meeting and celebrations of the International Day of Plant Health.
According to the official, the fall armyworm remains one of the main threats to national agricultural production, affecting 58,101 hectares in the current farming season, compared to 54,660 hectares in the previous season — an increase of 6.3%. “The worsening of pests continues to exert strong pressure on the agricultural sector and on rural families who depend directly on farming for their livelihoods,” he said.
He also highlighted a significant rise in the number of families affected by the elegant grasshopper. Although the infested area decreased, the number of affected households increased from 7,549 to 16,359, representing a 116.7% rise.
The Secretary of State noted that current phytosanitary challenges reflect the growing vulnerability of Mozambican agriculture to climate change and the rapid spread of pests and plant diseases. “Both our health and the health of our planet depend on plants,” he stressed. He also recalled that up to 40% of global food crops are lost annually due to pests and plant diseases, posing heightened risks for agriculture-dependent countries such as Mozambique.
He further warned that increased travel and international trade have facilitated the introduction of new pests into previously unaffected regions. “International travel and trade, which have tripled in volume over the past decade, are causing pests and diseases to appear in places where they had never been seen before,” he said.
Among the main phytosanitary threats identified by the authorities are the tomato leafminer and the Banana bunchy top virus, which continue to cause production losses.
In the banana sector, 1,191 hectares were affected during the 2024–25 season, of which 1,011 hectares were controlled by phytosanitary authorities, resulting in an estimated loss rate of 2.8%. Despite the challenges, the government considers that the results achieved demonstrate the responsiveness of plant health services, while acknowledging the need to strengthen preventive measures and expand monitoring and control capacity.
The National Plant Health Meeting brings together public institutions, development partners, universities and private sector representatives to assess the country’s phytosanitary situation and define strategies to prevent and combat key threats to agricultural production.
The government argues that strengthening plant health is a strategic priority to ensure food security, protect agricultural productivity and improve the competitiveness of Mozambican products in regional and international markets.
Source: Diário Económico
