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You are here: HomePortuguese Speaking Countries News[2019-03-19] Mozambique’s agricultural development model must be more competitive

[2019-03-19] Mozambique’s agricultural development model must be more competitive

Source: Macauhub

Mozambique’s agricultural development model has to be changed in order to be more competitive and create added value, said Mateus Magala, vice president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), in Maputo recently.

He also said that it is important to invest in the necessary infrastructure for the desired agricultural development model, which focuses on strengthening value chains and developing agribusiness.

Agriculture is the main economic activity in the country, accounting for 23% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing more than 2/3 of the working population.
Mozambique has 36 million hectares of arable land, but only 10% of this is in use, leaving the country with enormous potential for the development of agriculture and agribusiness.

The position of the AfDB was presented as a proposal to change the current model of agricultural development during the 16th Annual Conference of the Private Sector, according to Mozambican daily newspaper Notícias.

The vice president of the AfDB proposed some concrete actions for the development of agribusiness, which he said is fundamental for the modernisation and diversification of the economy and job creation focused on sustainable development. He added that the AfDB was open to responding to financing needs.

The bank, he said, intends to support the establishment of agro-industrial parks, in order to absorb additional production, add value, produce and sell high-quality nutritional food products, inside and outside the country, to reduce the current dependence on imports.