The province of Zambezia in Mozambique is characterized by limited agricultural and food availability and diversification. The main causes are: low productivity agricultural systems, poor crop diversification, loss of productive land and limited conservation and transformation capabilities.
Furthermore, there are inadequate eating and sanitation habits, poor institutional support and limited availability of self-produced food, aggravated by climate change. As a result, Zambezia experiences high rates of poverty and child malnutrition.
The project therefore intends to contribute to achieving food security, improving nutrition and increasing the income of the Mozambican population.
Prosolidar Foundation
- Increase the food security of small-scale producer families – in particular women and young people – in 4 communities of the Maganja da Costa District, increasing and diversifying primary production on the one hand, and strengthening the main food chains on the other. Sustainable agricultural production techniques will be promoted according to a circular and climate change-resilient approach (Successional AgroForestry Systems – SAFS and Agroecology). Furthermore, production activities will be diversified by introducing beekeeping as an economic and ecological activity.
- Improve the nutritional status of families in the intervention areas, in particular adolescent, pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 5 years of age – guaranteeing access to nutritious and safe nutrition and healthy, local agricultural products. The improvement of families’ eating habits will be achieved not only with the application of the proposed agricultural production model, which guarantees a highly diversified diet, but also through the development of knowledge and skills of women, who are mainly responsible for food preparation, on nutritional needs and the importance of a varied diet, fundamental for the correct cognitive development of boys and girls, particularly in the early stages of growth.
Direct beneficiaries
– 100 small rural producers who will receive support and training in SAF-based agricultural production activities;
– 20 beekeepers and their families;
– 40 women who will be assisted and trained on the management of nurseries and seed banks;
– 30 women benefited from nutritional and food education activities.
Indirect beneficiaries
The families of the direct beneficiaries, for a total of 1,500 people.
Project activities
1. Promotion of climate-resilient agricultural production systems through the application of Successional AgroForestry Systems (SAFS) and Agroecology applied to horticultural crops. The approach involves training through farmers field schools and the creation of results demonstration fields and individual fields for the application of the promoted techniques. The activity is completed by the creation and training on the management of community nurseries and seed banks.
2. Diversification and sustainable improvement of productive activities complementary to agricultural ones, in particular by supporting the honey supply chain. Beekeepers will be organized into community groups that will have organized hives and will be responsible for the correct management, collection and sale of honey.
3. Food and nutritional education activities for women and men, in particular with children in the family unit. A capacity building program on nutrition education and malnutrition principles will be implemented and culinary demonstrations will be held to prepare nutritious meals for infants and young mothers.