Agricultural production in Mutarara district, Tete province, fell dramatically in 2023, reaching just 40,000 tons, a figure far below the initial target of 164,000 tons. The district administrator, Domingos Macajo, attributed this significant drop to the devastating effects of the “El Niño” weather phenomenon, which resulted in a rainless first season.
According to Domingos Macajo, the lack of rain severely impacted agriculture, causing the loss of approximately 16,000 hectares of plowed and sown land. As a result, 31,984 families were directly affected, out of a total of 51,205 producing families, a figure that represents an increase of 2.8% compared to the previous agricultural season.
To deal with this adverse situation, the district has adopted mitigation measures, including sensitizing farmers to grow more drought-resistant crops, such as sesame. Macajo highlighted the importance of this crop, which as well as being resistant, has proved to be a crucial source of income for families, enabling them to purchase food during the crisis.
Despite the difficulties, the Mutarara administrator still expects the district to be able to produce 17,000 tons of cereals, which will meet part of the annual food requirement of around 31,500 tons, intended to sustain a population of more than 210,000 inhabitants.
In an attempt to strengthen the resilience of local agriculture and mitigate the effects of “El Niño”, 33 kilograms of various seeds and 41 tons of fertilizers are being distributed, including two types of fertilizer and 528 kilograms of basic seeds. These actions will benefit 14 local associations, strengthening the district’s productive capacity and contributing to the recovery of the affected soils.
With a set of mitigation measures underway and the adoption of more resilient agricultural strategies, the Mutarara district is seeking to overcome the challenges posed by “El Niño” and guarantee food security for its producer families.
