The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Roberto Albino, officially launched the citrus harvest season of the company Verdant Citrus Massingir on Saturday, June 21, in what is considered one of the largest citrus harvests in Mozambique since independence — both in terms of volume and fruit quality.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the launch “marks a major milestone for national agriculture, representing not only the success of a business project but also a clear sign of Mozambique’s agricultural potential,” particularly in citrus farming, and “a concrete result of government policies to boost commercial agriculture.”
The company, which operates on 505 hectares divided into five production blocks, has already carried out a pilot harvest of over 400 tons of grapefruit in Block A. This will soon be followed by a harvest of around 150 tons of high-quality oranges, 70% of which are destined for premium markets, including domestic consumption and export to neighboring South Africa, where sales are already secured.
Verdant Citrus Massingir currently employs 188 workers, of whom 167 are permanent and 21 seasonal. An overwhelming majority — 185 — are Mozambicans, many of them young people in leadership positions across key sectors. The team consists of 67 men and 121 women, reflecting an inclusive profile aligned with the country’s social development goals.
At the launch ceremony, Minister Roberto Albino praised the company’s professionalism and dedication, stating that “the Government is committed” to removing existing obstacles, especially in the areas of plant health and biosecurity. “This is the agribusiness model we want to see replicated across the country, but we are aware that much work remains to be done,” he said. The minister called for a deep reform of the bureaucracy affecting the sector, urging for improvements in the business environment and a more educational and collaborative approach to inspections. “We must ensure that water, electricity, and roads are closer to where the work actually happens and produces results — like here in Massingir,” he added.
Albino stressed that the commercial agricultural sector must play an increasingly important role in national GDP growth, with a direct impact on job creation. “We are aware of the challenges the company is facing and will involve the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA) and the entire private sector to address these issues in a coordinated way that benefits all producers, regardless of location,” he said.
The ministerial delegation’s visit to Massingir district concluded with a meeting with neighboring communities of the agricultural project. The purpose was to hear the concerns of local smallholder farmers. A key issue raised was the recurring problem of elephant invasions into farming areas, causing significant crop losses. The minister assured the communities that practical measures are already being implemented to mitigate the problem in the short term, in line with commitments made in previous meetings.
The government delegation included the Secretary of State for Gaza Province, the district administrator, and members of the Advisory Council of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MAAP).
Source: DE
