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Joseph Madzimure
Senior Reporter
MOZAMBIQUE is courting Zimbabwean farmers to share their expertise and invest in the agriculture sector, as the country ramps up its efforts to ensure food self-sufficiency.
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi was in Zimbabwe this week to open this year’s Zimbabwe Agricultural Show and noted Zimbabwe’s agriculture prowess, something he said his country is looking to tap into.
Already, an agreement has been reached to involve Zimbabwean farmers in rice production in Mozambique’s Chokwe District, among other areas.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Mozambique Victor Matemadanda said Mozambique boasts vast areas of underused virgin land hence it was seeking Zimbabwean investors and agricultural experts to come and grab the opportunities.
“They have asked us to help them be able to recruit Zimbabwean farmers so that they get into joint ventures with their Mozambican counterparts. They have thousands of hectares of land which is underused,” said Ambassador Matemadanda.
Some of the targeted areas were in Chokwe district regarded as the economic capital of Gaza Province. Chokwe district has one of the most extensive health networks in Mozambique and is inhabited by Tsonga-Shangaan speaking people.
Chokwe District, being in the Limpopo Corridor, is also home to many Zimbabwean immigrants.
Ambassador Matemadanda said President Nyusi has always wanted to have Zimbabwean farmers coming to Mozambique to help develop agriculture and also to have a process of skills exchange.
“President Nyusi has invited entrepreneurs from Zimbabwe to come and invest in Mozambique in the agriculture sector.
“I have gone to most of the provinces in Mozambique. There are vast tracts of virgin land that need to be tapped,” he said.
Mozambique has permanent sources of water that can be used for irrigation.
“In areas such as Chokwe, they have thousands of hectares of land where rice can be grown without much labour and water is readily available,” said Ambassador Matemadanda.
He said the coming of President Nyusi as the guest of honour at the Agricultural Show was not by coincidence, but was a way to show solidarity and support to Zimbabwe.
In addition, Mozambique was also keen to learn from Zimbabwe.
Speaking to journalists before his departure on Wednesday, President Nyusi said Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector was highly commendable and confirmed the strategic importance of agriculture as the largest sector in the country.
Zimbabwe, he said, was on the right trajectory in terms of economic development.
Online Reporter