Seed Multiplication to Empower Small Commercial Farmers- II (Mozambique)

The Seed Multiplication project to Empower Small Commercial Farmers – Phase II project aims to increase productivity and profitability of SHFs in Northern Mozambique, resulting in financial benefits for rural farming communities. This project is a follow-on to Phase I, which was from 1 Nov 2012-31 October 2015. The first phase set up a network of small commercial farmers, through selection of lead farmers and assistance to support their growth as well as access to equipment kits (tractors, threshers and other) to provide services to surrounding farmers, and becoming seed multiplication farmers. While these farmers grew and saw success in providing benefits to the smallholder farmers around them, through equipment services and access to quality seed, additional work was required to ensure a larger impact and sustainable model. The second phase of the project will ultimately contribute to the creation of rural growth “hubs” – led by targeted investment in SCFs – as economic engines to spur local rural development. The project will promote a diverse mix of crops that offers the SCF the best potential in terms of profitability within the agro-climatic conditions and market potential within Alta Zambézia. Soybean production will continue to make up the majority of land area, but pigeon pea, sesame, butter bean, will increase their weight in total income of each SCF production. Seed multiplication of these crops will continue to be an important core of SCF´s activities, but increasing grain production for the sale, as well as the selling agriculture services to SHFs will also play an important role.