Over 730,000 tonnes harvested in Angónia, Tete

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Over 730,000 tonnes harvested in Angónia, Tete

9:22 CAT | 02 Aug 2018

File photo: Voa Portugues

The district of Angonia in the western Mozambican province of Tete has produced a first harvest of over 730,000 tonnes of edible fruit and vegetables.

According to a report in Thursday’s issue of the daily newspaper “Noticias”, farmers said there are good prospects for the agricultural campaign despite a dry spell in January. One farmer, Jorge Phalusso, told the newspaper, “we do not expect to see any food insecurity in the district”.

However, the district administrator, Paulo Sebastiao, warned that field monitoring by multi-sectoral teams had found the combined effect of drought, locusts, and fall armyworms led to a fall in the average crop yield, particularly for maize and beans. He noted drought had hit the area between December and January but that the crops had recovered.

During the first agricultural season, an area of 203,000 hectares was harvested in Angonia. The farmers will now work on the second season. Among the crops being cultivated are cereals, beans, roots and tubers, vegetables, fruit, and gourds. The second harvest could yield an additional 160,000 tonnes of food.

Paulo Sebastiao added that the tobacco crop is being cured before being sold. So far, the processing company Mozambique Leaf Tobacco (MLT) has bought 12,474 tonnes of tobacco from the district, mostly from the locality of Nkhame with other batches coming from the village of Ulongue.

The district has 105 agricultural extension workers who transmit knowledge and best working practices to 50,375 farmers.

Source: AIM