BEIRA, SOFALA — Mozambique’s agricultural sector is poised for ambitious growth, with President Daniel Chapo announcing a target of 3.4 million tonnes of cereals for the 2025/2026 agricultural campaign, marking a 7% increase over the previous year. Speaking at the campaign launch in Beira, Sofala, President Chapo outlined significant production goals across multiple key commodities, underscoring the government’s drive to boost food security and economic diversification.
The aggressive growth strategy extends beyond cereals. The government aims to hit 929,000 tonnes of pulses, with a particular focus on butter beans, and to produce more than 10 million tonnes of roots and tubers, featuring a targeted 5% increase in cassava output. In the cash crop space, cashew nut production is expected to rise by 13% to over 180,000 tonnes. Livestock production is also in line for expansion, with cattle production slated for 5% growth and egg production projected to see a substantial 26% increase. Furthermore, President Chapo highlighted a strategic focus on soya production to serve as a critical input for the burgeoning poultry farming sector.
To realise these objectives, the President emphasised a need for structural reform, positioning the private sector as the key leader in the agricultural value chain. This shift will allow the government to concentrate its resources on research and technological innovation, promoting the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies, developing essential public infrastructure, and improving farmers’ access to land and financing. The strategy also includes implementing institutional reforms and strengthening environmental sustainability through reforestation and climate change-adapted practices.
These projections follow a positive, albeit challenging, 2024 campaign. Despite difficulties posed by climate shocks and social unrest, the government had previously forecast a 5% growth in agricultural production for 2025. The food crop sector in the 2024 campaign saw notable growth, with cereals expanding by approximately 9%, pulses by 7%, and roots and tubers—led by cassava—by 12%. The positive trend in output was reflected in commercialisation figures, with the 2024 Agricultural Marketing Campaign seeing 20,104,301 tonnes of various products marketed, a 14% jump from the 17,257,904 tonnes marketed in 2023, according to the head of state. President Chapo concluded by stressing the importance of consolidating agricultural and fishing fairs as permanent hubs for innovation and experience exchange.
