Gorongosa National Park is set to break new ground with the construction of a $14 million (895 million meticais) canned fruit processing plant in Mozambique’s Sofala province. The investment signals a strategic move by the conservation organization to expand its economic development initiatives beyond ecotourism and into agro-industrial projects.
The facility, to be located in the Nhamatanda district, is the first of its kind in the province and is projected to create as many as 3,000 jobs. This project aims to boost local livelihoods by providing a reliable market for smallholder farmers in the park’s buffer zone, who will supply fruits like pineapple to the plant.
“It’s really designed to support families’ livelihoods on a large scale,” said district administrator Emanuel Teixeira. He confirmed that the funds for the project are already secured, and initial work on an environmental impact study and a survey to identify families for potential resettlement is set to begin imminently.
This venture is part of a broader trend of investment in Mozambique’s agro-processing sector, particularly in the central region, as the country seeks to add value to its agricultural exports and create a more diversified, resilient economy. The plant’s success will serve as a test case for how conservation and commercial agriculture can be integrated to generate economic opportunities while supporting local communities.
