Mozambique: Lychee exports increase

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Mozambique: Lychee exports increase

3:37 CAT | 09 Dec 2024

Photo: Notícias

Exports of Mozambican lychees to Europe have been growing, a trend influenced by increased production, promotion and provision of technical support to farmers who cultivate this crop.

Such were the comments made on Thursday by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Celso Correia, who was visiting a lychee production and processing unit in Catuane administrative post, Matutuíne district, Maputo province.

Mozambique currently produces around 55,000 tons of lychee per year, a quantity that is increasing in line with the expansion of production areas.

Manica province accounts for around 60% of national lychee production, with about 32,614 tons per year, followed by Maputo province with 21,674 tons per year.

Manica aims to increase production of the fruit in the coming years, with Europe its main export market, especially England, France, Spain, Italy and Germany.

In terms of revenue, Minister Correia said that lychee generates, on average, around US$3 million a year, with good prospects for growth, considering that cultivation of the crop is still in its infancy in Mozambique.

“This year, lychee has faced major challenges due to climate variations, not only in Mozambique but also in South Africa, so much so that reaching this stage and having production is very positive. Our product will enter the market in a specific window in the next two weeks, representing a generation of foreign currency for the country,” Celso Correia said.

In addition to monitoring lychee production, Minister Correia also visited tomato producers responsible for supplying the national market, particularly Zimpeto wholesalers.

Correia promised that tomato and other products would be available in the south of the country over the coming days, despite production difficulties and the strong competition from South Africa, which already has a consolidated market.

Source: Notícias