What is the story about?
What's Happening?
The African Development Bank Group has approved a $22.8 million grant to support Mozambique's rice value chain and improve climate resilience. The initiative, known as the Rice Value Chain and Climate Resilience Project (RIVACREP), aims to increase rice self-sufficiency from 50% to 75% by 2030. The project targets 30,000 smallholder farmers across four provinces, focusing on vulnerable populations, with 70% of beneficiaries being women and 30% youth. The project will quadruple rice yields and increase household incomes, while also rehabilitating irrigation infrastructure and establishing milling factories. It aligns with Mozambique's national development strategy and the African Union's Agenda 2063.
Why It's Important?
This grant is significant as it addresses food security challenges in Mozambique, a country heavily reliant on rice imports. By enhancing local production, the project aims to reduce import dependency, conserve foreign reserves, and alleviate rural poverty. The focus on climate-smart technologies and infrastructure development is expected to create a more resilient agricultural sector. Additionally, the project supports gender and youth inclusion, contributing to broader social and economic development goals. The initiative also serves as a model for similar agricultural value chain transformations in other regions.
What's Next?
The project is set to run from December 2025 to December 2030, with a mid-term review in 2028. It includes a Contingency Emergency Response mechanism to provide rapid support during crises, addressing vulnerabilities to climate shocks and regional security challenges. The success of this project could lead to its replication in other key commodities, further enhancing Mozambique's agricultural sector and economic resilience.
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