…as Mozambique expands pigeon pea markets
ICRISAT and FAO are backing a rapid expansion of farmer-led pigeon pea seed enterprises in Mozambique, unlocking new income streams and accelerating the country’s entry into regional and international markets amid rising demand for high-value pulses.
Led by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the initiative is reshaping how smallholder farmers access quality seed and markets, turning pigeon pea from a subsistence crop into a profitable, market-oriented enterprise.
More than 70 percent of Mozambicans depend on agriculture, yet just 10% of the country’s 36 million hectares of arable land is cultivated, an untapped potential now drawing renewed attention as export markets for pulses continue to expand.
That market momentum is being driven by investments in resilient, decentralized seed systems that put farmers in control of production and supply.
With support from FAO through the Benefit-Sharing Fund of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, ICRISAT is leading on-the-ground implementation by scaling farmer-led seed enterprises that link local production directly to expanding domestic and export markets.
At the community level, this shift is creating new roles for farmers as seed producers, suppliers, and market participants.
In peak years, exports have exceeded 170,000 tons.
In 2025, production remained stable in key growing areas despite erratic rainfall and El Niño-related weather stress, with districts such as Cuamba in Niassa Province contributing more than 10,000 tons.
The crop improves soil fertility through nitrogen fixation and strengthens household nutrition.
Beyond its commercial value, pigeon pea offers critical agronomic and nutritional benefits.
As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it improves soil fertility, supports crop diversification, and contributes to household nutrition, making it a cornerstone crop for sustainable intensification.
At research hubs in Mutwari and Angonia, ICRISAT produces early-generation seed of improved pigeon pea and groundnut varieties.
These seeds are then multiplied and distributed by farmer cooperatives and local seed enterprises, ensuring timely access to quality seed while creating new income-generating businesses within rural communities.
Dr. James Mwololo, a legume breeder at ICRISAT, said these sites serve as both seed production hubs and learning platforms.
“We are building local capacity so seed supply systems endure beyond project cycles.”
“Farmers are becoming seed entrepreneurs and reliable suppliers within their own communities, supported by community seed banks, revolving seed funds, and participatory varietal selection that give them access to improved, locally adapted varieties,” said Dr. Mwololo.
