Will Mozambique Replicate Successful Story in Cerrado, Brazil: Challenges and Opportunities

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Farming Systems and Role of Women in Mozambique
Agricultural Transformation and Development Strategy
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Mozambique is a vast nation in southern Africa with a populace of roughly 23 million occupants (Rosario, 2013, p. 3). Agriculture is a very important sector of the country’s economy, with 70 percent of its rural populace depending mainly on farming for employment and livelihood. In fact, it is the second most important sector in Mozambique after the service sector.

It accounts for nearly 25 percent of the aggregate output (Coughlin, 2006, p. 10). In addition, it has contributed considerably to the massive being made in the battle against poverty for the last two decades (Ashley & Gêmo, 2010, p. 5).

As of late, the nation has been regarded by global organizations as one of the success stories in present-day Africa. This is a result of political steadiness and positive macroeconomic performance. In the last decade, the country’s aggregate output has been growing by around 8 percent every year.

However, the Human Development Index in the country is still low; Mozambique is ranked number 165 out of 169 (Rosario, 2013, p. 4). This means agriculture doesn’t do so well as expected, especially being the main source of income for nearly 80 percent of the country’s population.

Rural food insecurity is the main cause of poverty in Mozambique. According to the country’s ministry of agriculture, at least 37 percent of the rural population normally suffers from food shortage every year (Grabowski, 2011, p. 9).

This essay will explore the state of agriculture in the South African state of Mozambique, which will include the country’s farming systems and agricultural policies, and the role of women in agriculture, among others. This will be achieved through the exploration of different theories and concepts and key arguments between authors and their conceptual positions.

Farming Systems and Role of Women in Mozambique

Mozambique’s agribusiness is characterized by smallholder and sedentary farming system (Grabowski, 2011, p. 9). According to Gemo and Rivera (2001, p. 5), each active holding possesses approximately 1.1 hectares with Less than 2 percent owning more than 10 hectares. The overall productivity among the smallholder farmers is exceedingly low.

Their participation in the market is also very poor because of various reasons, including high transaction costs, low yields, inadequate information and lack of market. In addition, increased land fragmentation, which is as a result of sociocultural factors such as land inheritance, has made the farms uneconomical. Nevertheless, traditional farming systems ensure survival of peasant farmers and preservation of traditional food crops.

Despite constituting over 70 percent of agricultural producers, the lineage systems have restricted women access to land. Additionally, even though the government of Mozambique has ratified the African Charter on Human and Gender rights, it has not been translated into concrete actions (Gawaya, 2015, p. 8).

Therefore, gender rights and full participation of women in agricultural production still remain one of the major challenges facing the country. In fact, the majority of women are like slaves because they participate in agricultural production, but do not enjoy the economic benefits.

Agricultural Transformation and Development Strategy

The Brazil-Mozambique partnership, along with other state-initiated programs has led to a significant transformation of the country’s agricultural sector (Nehring & Wolford, 2015, p. 210). However, the biggest question that lingers in the mind of many people is whether Mozambique will replicate the success story of Cerrado, Brazil.

Three decades ago, Brazil signed a trilateral agreement with the United States and Japan to modernize agricultural production and agricultural market produce. The agreement (commonly known as ProCerrado), saw Brazil transform from a food insecure to a food surplus economy, as well as lifting millions of its citizens from poverty. The Brazil’s success story has been sought after by many African countries, including Mozambique following numerous food crises that have rocked the continent over the last three decades.

ProSavana, which is a replica of ProCerrado, is the best strategy to tackle the current predicaments facing the agricultural sector. ProSavana is based on Fei-Ranis model of economic growth or surplus labor model. It is not only aimed at mechanizing agricultural production, but also to support agricultural research and commodification of land, labor and capital in Mozambique.

Commodification of land, labor and capital basically means increasing land areas through acquisition and privatization, commercializing farming, and enhancing access to capital. This leads to the development of large agricultural estates and increased agricultural productivity in terms of labor and agricultural output (Nehring & Wolford, 2015, p. 210).

Given the peace and tranquility enjoyed by the country and increased economic growth, ProSavana policy is achievable. In addition, the country has about 36 million hectares, with only 3.2 million hectares occupied by smallholder farmers. This offers a great opportunity for increasing agricultural land areas, embracing commercial and mechanized farming, as well as funding agricultural research and rural extension services.

Commercial farming will attract excess labor from the smallholdings to large estates due to lucrative wages. This will give women and youths an opportunity to exploit their potential and earn good income and, subsequently, reduce general poverty levels. In addition, rural extension services will make the society appreciate the role of women in agriculture and the economy as a whole (Rosario, 2013, p. 3; van den Berg, 1987, p. 382).

Conclusion

Agriculture in Mozambique is both a source of food and livelihood. Therefore, agricultural transformation will not only make the country a food secure nation, but also help to reduce poverty through increased income to local farmers. In addition, it caters for the needs of the marginalized, especially women and youths. The government and non-governmental organizations play a very important role in the transformation process, for example, providing support programs and building agricultural infrastructure.

References

Ashley, S & Gêmo, H 2010, Assessment of Phase II of PROAGRICULTURE, Ministry of Agriculture, Maputo, Mozambique.

Gawaya, R 2015, Investing in Women Farmers to Eliminate Food Insecurity in Southern Africa: Policy-Related Research from Mozambique, Rouledge, London, UK.

Gemo, H., & Rivera, W 2001, “Mozambique’s Move towards a Pluralistic National System of Rural Extension”, Agricultural Research and Extension Network Paper No. 110.

Grabowski, P 2011, Constraints of Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in the Angonia Highland of Mozambique: Perspectives from Smallholder Hand-Hoe Farmers, Master’s Thesis, Michigan University, Michigan.

Coughlin, P 2006, Agricultural intensification in Mozambique infrastructure, policy and institutional framework—when do problems signal opportunities? Economic Policy Research Group, Maputo, Mozambique.

Nehring, R., & Wolford, W 2015, “Constructing Parallels: Brazilian Expertise and the Commodification of Land, Labor and Money in Mozambique”, Canadian Journal of Development Studies, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 208-223.

Rocha, A., Starkey, P., & Dionisio , AC 1991, “Cattle Production and Utilization of Smallholder Farming Systems in Southern Mozambique”, Agricultural System, vol. 37, pp. 55-75.

Rosario, DM 2013, From Negligence to Populism: An Analysis of Mozambique’s Agricultural Political Economy, United Nations University, Helsinki.

van den Berg, J 1987, “A peasant form of production: wage-dependent agriculture in Southern Mozambique’’, Canadian Journal of African Studies, vol. 21, no.3, pp. 372-389.

Click Here To Order Now!