In response to climate change affecting agricultural yields in Mozambique, the African Development Bank (AfDB) is providing US$ 5.6 million to enhance food security. The funding is being provided through the African Development Fund (ADF), the AfDB’s concessional lending window. The funds will enable Mozambique to boost agricultural production in the most vulnerable areas.
“It will provide farmers with certified seeds adapted to climate change, fertilizers and extension services. It will also facilitate farmers’ access to modern inputs and support policy reforms by strengthening national institutions with laboratory equipment,” the AfDB said. The support of the Abidjan-based financial institution in Ivory Coast is part of its “Feed Africa” initiative.
The AfDB is allocating its funding within the framework of the Emergency Reconstruction and Resilience Project initiated by the government of Mozambique following Cyclones Idai and Kenneth which hit the East African country in 2019. These disasters caused 700 deaths, several million people affected, and material and environmental damage. According to Mozambique’s National Institute for Disaster Management and Reduction, the storms have already destroyed 142,000 hectares of agricultural land since 2019, with the resultant loss of biodiversity.
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In this context, other development partners are supporting Mozambique’s climate resilience. This is the case of the Nordic Development Fund (NDF), which has announced complementary funding to that of the AfDB to the tune of USD 2 million. The funds are intended for the distribution of maize, soybean and sesame seeds for the development of sustainable agriculture in Mozambique. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is pledging $5 million for the implementation of the National Agriculture and Rural Development Programme currently underway in Mozambique.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi