Cereal crops in Mozambique exceeded 1.9 million tons in 2020 – survey

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Cereal crops in Mozambique exceeded 1.9 million tons in 2020 – survey

8:36 CAT | 04 Jun 2021

Photo: Ministério da Agricultura e Desenvolvimento Rural

The production of cereals in Mozambique surpassed 1.9 million tons in 2020, registering the biggest increase in recent years, the Integrated Agricultural Survey released on Thursday by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reveals.

The survey, which compares 2020 production with that of 2017, in which just over 1.7 million tons of cereals were produced throughout Mozambique, was conducted over three months beginning in September 2020, and covered 140 of the country’s 154 districts.

Maize was the most-produced cereal in 2020, surpassing 1.6 million tons, followed by sorghum (142,000 tons) and rice (137,000 tons).

In root and tubers crops, the survey shows 2020 production standing at 6.4 million tons, with cassava maintaining its dominant position among Mozambique’s staple foodstuffs.

In oilseeds, total national production in 2020 was 212,627 tons, with sesame contributing 125,038 tons and soybean oil 51,759 tons.

The document also highlights cashew nuts as a cash crop, recording a total of 143,399 tons sold in the last year, up from 140,000 tons the previous season. A total 2,484 tons of macadamia nuts were also registered.

The production of fruits registered nationally in the 2019/2020 campaign was 269,000 tons, with banana leading the way at 258,315 tons.

The figures also show livestock husbandry growing in recent years, with cattle now exceeding 2.2 million head and small ruminants (goats and sheep) numbering 4.8 million.

The survey, which will be available to the public from the 15th of this month (June), also ranks provinces and districts by level of production.

Tete province, in the centre of the country, had the highest maize production in the 2019/20 campaign, contributing 28.26% of the national volume.

Zambézia province was the largest producer of rice, accounting for 31.23% of national production, and also leads in the production of various bean varieties with 113,971 tons, a third of national production.

The province of Nampula, in the north, leads in peanuts, with about 46,034 tons, and in cassava production, with a total of 2.5 million tons.

Source: Lusa