Mozambican Prime Minister Benvinda Levi has urged the country to strengthen its agri-food system in order to reduce poverty and dependence in the agricultural sector.
According to the Prime Minister, speaking on Monday, at a ceremony celebrating International Women’s Day, agriculture is crucial to boost national development and sustainable economic growth, as established in the Government’s Five-Year Program for 2025-2029.
“Within this strategy, the government is committed to modernizing agriculture, strengthening value chains, developing production hubs, and empowering small producers. The government also intends to facilitate farmers’ access to inputs, financing, technical assistance, and agricultural insurance, measures considered fundamental to making the sector more productive and resilient”, she said.
Addressing the role of women, Levi acknowledged that they represent a significant portion of the workforce in the field, participating in virtually all phases of the production chain.
“When women have access to land, technology, financing, markets, and knowledge, the gains translate not only into greater production, but above all into better living conditions for their families and greater resilience for communities,” she declared.
For this reason, she added, strengthening women’s participation and autonomy in the agri-food system is not only a matter of social justice, but also an essential condition for accelerating the economic development of communities and the country.
She explained that the promotion of gender equality must go hand in hand with guaranteeing the rights and safety of women and girls.
Levi also believes that gender-based violence undermines social and economic development by affecting the health of victims, limiting opportunities, and reducing productivity.
“We are reaffirming a moral principle that is simultaneously an essential condition for development, because violence against women destroys their health, limits opportunities, reduces productivity, and compromises the future of children,” she said.
She added that in Mozambique, combating gender-based violence is a concrete guideline for public policies and investment decisions.
“Building a just society requires that all women and girls can live with dignity, security, and freedom to fully realize their potential”, she said.
