The most vulnerable households in Mozambique are reducing the size and frequency of their meals and seeking work outside their communities to cope with growing difficulties in accessing food, according to an analysis by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET).
The international food crisis monitoring and early warning organisation, cited by Lusa, notes that the poorest households continue to face pressure from a combination of insufficient income, high food prices, climate shocks, and disruptions to their livelihoods.
In the most affected areas, FEWS NET projects that families will resort to survival strategies including reducing quantities consumed and the number of daily meals, as well as prioritising food for children.
In central and southern Mozambique, the difficulties are also expected to drive increased demand for work opportunities outside normal areas of residence. According to the organisation, some households may resort to what it terms ‘atypical labour migration’ to compensate for lost purchasing power and secure alternative sources of income.
At the same time, the supply of national markets is being supported by imports from regional countries. FEWS NET notes that imports from South Africa are complementing available supply in local markets, in a context where the recovery of agricultural production remains constrained by planting delays and difficulties in accessing seeds.
The second-season harvest could contribute to a gradual improvement in food availability in some parts of the country. Even so, the organisation anticipates that many households will remain subject to economic and food pressure in the coming months.
In northern Mozambique, the situation remains particularly affected by insecurity in Cabo Delgado. Attacks by armed groups continue to cause population displacement and to restrict communities’ access to their traditional means of subsistence.
In the centre and south, recovery from flooding that occurred earlier in the year remains slow. The floods affected more than 700,000 people and damaged approximately 440,000 hectares of agricultural land in the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, and Sofala, according to figures previously released by Mozambican authorities.
The situation was subsequently compounded by periods of drought and intense rainfall, further increasing the difficulties faced by families dependent on agriculture.
FEWS NET also flags risks associated with weather conditions during the next agricultural season, which could affect in particular households dependent on subsistence farming.
The combination of reduced production, limited income, and high prices thus continues to weigh on food access among the most vulnerable households, despite the prospect of some recovery in agricultural supply in certain regions.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/08/10/desenvolvimento-2/fews-net-familias-mocambicanas-reduzem-refeicoes-devido-a-dificuldades-alimentares/
