SUSTENTA, a national program for the integration of family farming into productive value chains, is expected to boost the present 2020-2021 agrarian campaign, with an anticipated increase in the irrigated perimeter in the infrastructure areas of the current 60,000 to 70,000 hectares.
Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER), shared during the institution’s I Coordinating Council, recently held in the district of Bilene, in the province of Gaza, under the motto: Mozambique towards zero hunger 2020/30, refer that for the present campaign is projected to increase cultivation from 6.2 million to 6.4 million hectares driven by the increase in the number of family farmers and the opening of new areas of semi-commercial and commercial agriculture.
“As for the use of certified and fertizing seed, there is an increase of 5,300 tons, whose growth is 96% and an increase from 60,000 to 80,000 tons, respectively. In the national extension network, it is estimated to have 3,451 extension workers, from of which 2,158 are newly hired, increasing coverage from 4.6% to 11% ”, says MADER.
According to the source, around 3,420 extension workers were also trained in different matters related to comprehensive assistance to families and to foster production.
“This training, in addition to training extension officers in general, aimed to equip supervisors with the necessary tools, in order to act as catalysts for productive value chains, supporting coordinating extensionists and field technicians in planning, production and connection domestic and foreign markets ”, said.
In a statement, the Ministry emphasizes that 4,224 kits were allocated to agricultural and livestock extension workers, 2,218 motorcycles, as well as 4,224 tablets purchased for that group of professionals, with a monthly credit of 1000 meticais.
