Food Production in Mozambique and Rising Global Food Prices

The document examines how Mozambique's reliance on food imports and historical underinvestment in agriculture have made it vulnerable to global price spikes, particularly for rice and wheat. It details the transition from state-supported agriculture to neoliberal structural adjustment programmes in the 1990s, which led to a decline in the use of fertilizers and pesticides. To counter current food insecurity, the government has introduced the 'Green Revolution' strategy and the 2008–11 Food Production Action Plan (FPAP), increasing the agricultural budget to 10% of the state budget and reducing import tariffs on staples from 25% to 2.5%. The author argues that long-term success depends on improving infrastructure, resolving land tenure conflicts, and attracting private sector investment.

• Mozambique is highly vulnerable to global food price increases, particularly for rice and wheat, due to limited domestic production of these commodities.
• Domestic maize production serves as a critical stabilizer for food prices, meaning the country was less affected by global maize price hikes than by those for rice and wheat.
• Structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) starting in 1987 led to a significant decline in agricultural productivity by removing state support and subsidies for inputs.
• The government has implemented the 'Green Revolution' strategy and the 2008–11 Food Production Action Plan (FPAP) to reduce the grain deficit and improve food security.
• Short-term policy responses to the food crisis included a 90% reduction in import tariffs for maize, wheat, and rice in early 2008.
• The government is investing approximately US$10 million in the first phase of constructing strategic silos in the food-surplus provinces of Niassa, Nampula, Zambezia, Sofala, and Manica.
• Despite the Land Law of 1997, significant barriers to private investment remain, including a lack of transparency in lease granting, corruption, and the inability to use land as collateral for loans.

APA

Biacuana, G. (2009). Food Production in Mozambique and Rising Global Food Prices. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/ag_scenarios_south_africa_mozambique.pdf

Chicago

Biacuana, Gilberto. Food Production in Mozambique and Rising Global Food Prices. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2009. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/ag_scenarios_south_africa_mozambique.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Biacuana |first1=Gilberto |title=Food Production in Mozambique and Rising Global Food Prices |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2009 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/ag_scenarios_south_africa_mozambique.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{biacuana2009food, author = {Biacuana, Gilberto}, title = {{Food Production in Mozambique and Rising Global Food Prices}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2009}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/ag_scenarios_south_africa_mozambique.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }