Mozambique Agriculture represents 24 pct of country’s economy

Mozambique’s agricultural sector represents 24 percent of the country’s GDP and 20 percent of its exports, said the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Daniel Clemente, according to daily newspaper Notícias.
Clemente acknowledged that agriculture, practiced mostly by small family farms, still has some weaknesses, characterized by weak links with markets and reduced use of agricultural inputs and modern technology.
He said, for example, only about 3 percent of some 3.9 million existing agri-livestock farms in Mozambique use fertilizers and 9 percent use improved maize seeds, the staple food crop in the country.
“Agriculture in Mozambique is an important economic activity which provides a livelihood and food security to more than 80 percent of households,” said the permanent secretary, speaking at a meeting on rural agricultural statistics.
The regional meeting on the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Global Strategy Action for Improving Agricultural and Rural Statistics in Africa brings together in Maputo representatives of 29 countries, including Mozambique, to assess progress, and address issues such as training on the use of newer methods and creating a strategic plan for agricultural and rural statistics.  MDT/Macauhub