Guro District, in Manica province, requires about 11,000 tons of cereals to ensure the population’s food security and minimize the effects of the drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon, which severely affected agricultural production during the 2024-2025 season, reported the Mozambican News Agency.
According to the agency, the district administrator, João Pedro Amade, revealed that the production from the last harvest covers only six months of consumption for the approximately 118,893 inhabitants of the region. “The district needs about 23,868 tons of cereals annually. In the last season, we produced 21,610 tons. However, 40% of this production was sold, leaving only 12,966 tons for consumption, which may not be enough for the next six months,” explained the official.
To prevent a food insecurity scenario, district authorities are in contact with partners to mobilize seeds and agricultural equipment to ensure a good harvest in the 2025-2026 agricultural season. “Some of the affected population lives in areas far from the Zambezi and Luenha rivers, the most affected by the drought. Sometimes it has been difficult to provide assistance to these people because they depend entirely on rainfall,” said João Pedro Amade.
The administrator believes that, with the collaboration of partners and regular rainfall, production can improve in the next harvest. “With technical support and timely provision of seeds and other inputs, farmers will be able to plant at the right time to compensate for the losses of 2024-2025,” he added.
The El Niño phenomenon caused the loss of vast areas of various crops in Guro District and other parts of Manica province, particularly affecting cereal and vegetable crops in the districts of Machaze, Báruè, Macossa, Macate, Vanduzi, and Tambara.
Source: Diário Económico
