The European Union (EU) will support an additional 10,000 Mozambican farmers in producing grains for the country to cope with the global food crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.
The measure results from a reinforcement of 15 million euros for the Promove AgriBiz program that is being celebrated in Maputo today.
“With these funds, starting this agricultural season, we will be able to extend our current support to a larger number of farmers, enabling them to produce more and more and in a more sustainable way, so that they can cope with future crises and, especially this year, the impact of the dramatic increase in production costs,” said Antonino Maggiore, EU Ambassador to Mozambique.
Promove AgriBiz already supports 22,000 farmers and the reinforcement announced today means an increase of 45%.
The diplomat spoke at the aid signing ceremony in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Mozambican Cereals Institute (ICM).
“The newly allocated funds will help to create the strategic food reserve, in line with the ICM’s mandate. The aim is to support the production of 16,000 tons of maize and 4,000 tons of beans,” the EU said in a statement.
The aid is part of the €23 million announced in September for Mozambique, as part of the European Development Fund’s overall package of €600 million for food and production aid in the most vulnerable countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean (ACP).
In Mozambique, the EU expects disruptions in the production and trade of grains and fertilizers to lead to shortages and likely price increases with negative effects on the food security of the poorest populations.
Subsistence farming is the main source of food for the majority of Mozambican’s population, which is currently estimated to be about 31.6 million people, about half of whom are under the age of 18.
Source: DN
