The Mozambican government intends to incubate at least 1,000 agribusiness entrepreneurs per year through a programme set to launch in 2026, with the aim of transforming subsistence agriculture into an activity capable of generating income and employment.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, Roberto Mito Albino, at the opening of the Seminar on Agribusiness Development in Mozambique, held in Maputo.
"Our target is that at least one thousand entrepreneurs are incubated per year. That is the minimum. But we have the conditions to do more," the minister said, as quoted by the Mozambique Information Agency.
According to the minister, the programme will involve the private sector and producers' associations, and will not be limited to state structures. The initiative aims to provide training and mentoring to those seeking to develop market-oriented agricultural activities.
Albino stressed that transforming the sector requires more than financing, noting that entrepreneurs must also be equipped with technical knowledge and management skills to build sustainable businesses across different value chains.
On the financing front, the minister revealed that the government is working with GAPI, a development finance institution, to facilitate producers' access to credit, while also leaving room for participation by commercial banks.
According to Albino, this cooperation has already financed more than 400 operations during its first year, supporting producers in developing their agricultural activities.
The minister also advocated for strengthening specialised producer associations, arguing that the organisation of farmers should respond to the specific needs of each activity rather than rely on generic models.
"We need to talk about specialised associativism," he said, citing seed production, horticulture, rice, agricultural mechanisation, and input supply as examples.
The government accordingly intends to promote cooperatives oriented toward economic activity, enabling producers with shared interests to pool resources, knowledge, and business opportunities.
Producers Call for Less Bureaucracy and Greater Credit Access
The president of the National Federation of Peasant and Agricultural Producer Associations (FENAGRI), Ângelo Cumaio, identified access to financing and bureaucracy as among the main obstacles faced by producers.
He called for closer dialogue between the agricultural sector and the government, with a view to creating more favourable conditions for business development.
Portugal's Ambassador to Mozambique, Jorge Monteiro, also highlighted the importance of strengthening the organisation of smallholder producers, facilitating their access to credit, technology, information, and markets.
"We need a modern, professional, and results-oriented associativism," the diplomat said, arguing that agricultural production must evolve toward activities capable of generating added value, employment, and export opportunities.
The seminar brought together representatives from the government, the private sector, and development cooperation partners to discuss financing solutions, producer organisation, and agribusiness development in Mozambique.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=551339
