Mozambique: Austrian cooperation funds fruit growing with €10 million – RM

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Mozambique: Austrian cooperation funds fruit growing with €10 million – RM

2:55 CAT | 25 Mar 2022

Photo: MADER

Austrian cooperation partners are financing a new component of the Sustenta programme in the amount of €10 million, the equivalent of 703.1 million meticais.

The program, which consists in the transfer of technologies in the fruit-growing value chain and will initially be implemented in the provinces of Manica, Sofala and Inhambane, was launched this Thursday by Mozambique’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Celso Corrieia, in the district of Macate, Manica province.

Seventeen fruit-producing associations and individuals received fruit drying machines, which will preserve the fruit, guaranteeing a longer shelf life and improving marketability.

Minister Corrieia pointed out the many advantages of the processing machines, which can preserve fruit for up to a year after harvesting.

Also present, Secretary of State for Manica province, Edson Macuácua, said that the arrival of this technology would solve a major problem for fruit producers in the area.

The technology transfer component, which aims to integrate family fruit production into the value chain, will initially cover mangoes, bananas, pineapples, citrus fruits, avocados and lychees, and will benefit producers and associations who exploit areas of not less than one hectare.

Mozambique annually records post-harvest losses in the fruit industry estimated at around 20%, at a cost of US$1 billion.

The Ministry of Agriculture is determined to cut this figure to 10% in the next five years, by ensuring producers have better access to post-harvest management technologies.

Source: Rádio Moçambique