The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries (MAAP), Roberto Albino, has called for a significant increase in domestic food production as one of the primary conditions for strengthening food security and reducing Mozambique's dependence on imports, against a backdrop of international conflict and instability.
Albino was speaking at the opening of the 1st National Conference on Food and Nutritional Security, held from 14 to 15 September in Maputo, under the theme 'Food and Nutritional Security: Collective Responsibility for the Development of Mozambique'.
According to Roberto Albino, the transformation of the agricultural sector must be placed at the centre of public policy, through increased production and productivity of priority crops, as well as livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture. 'We cannot depend solely on imports to guarantee our food security,' he stated, arguing that domestic production must also generate employment and income, and contribute to improving the trade and payments balance.
To achieve this objective, the Government has been investing in agrarian transformation through the introduction of improved crop varieties, the adoption of modern production practices, and mechanisation adapted to the needs of smallholder farmers. The strategy also encompasses more efficient management of water and soils, as well as local processing of agricultural products to add value to national output.
The implementation of this strategy depends, however, on water availability — particularly in a country where approximately 70% of agricultural activity is family-based and predominantly rain-fed. In this context, the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Fernando Rafael, called for strengthened water storage and management capacity as a prerequisite for increasing agricultural production and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Fernando Rafael highlighted Mozambique's considerable water resources potential, noting that the country has approximately 104 river basins, 35 of which are considered strategic. The minister identified the construction of dams and irrigation systems as essential to securing water supply for agriculture. 'Without water, we cannot speak of food security,' he said, advocating for infrastructure capable of guaranteeing water for agricultural production, human consumption, and livestock watering.
Among the projects in this area, the minister cited the construction and rehabilitation of dams, irrigation systems, and flood protection dykes. He referenced the Massingir dam as an example, with capacity to irrigate approximately 33,000 hectares, alongside other initiatives aimed at increasing water availability and strengthening community resilience in the face of extreme weather events.
'We must be spokespeople for solutions, not for disaster' — Roberto Albino
The Minister of Health, Ussene Isse, argued that food security must not be limited to the availability of food alone, but must also guarantee adequate nutrition, particularly for children and women of reproductive age. 'Food and nutritional security is a fundamental intervention for disease prevention, for strengthening the immune system, and for the physical and cognitive development of our children,' he said.
According to the minister, improvements in nutrition must begin during pregnancy and extend across the different stages of life, through measures such as family planning, micronutrient supplementation, food fortification, and nutritional monitoring at health facilities. Isse also advocated for strengthened community-level interventions, particularly in rural areas, to bring health and nutrition services closer to the population.
The interventions by Roberto Albino, Fernando Rafael, and Ussene Isse converged on the need for an integrated response that links food production, water availability, and health services.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/14/desenvolvimento-2/1-a-conferencia-nacional-de-seguranca-alimentar-e-nutricional-maap-defende-aumento-da-producao-de-alimentos/
