Agribusiness & Rural Finance

The agricultural potential in Mozambique, as in all of Southern Africa, is unquestionable. With an abundance of arable soil, numerous crops, favourable climate, and well-established trade corridors position the region to become a prominent producer and exporter of food staples to the World. However, despite agriculture being the main subsistence activity in the African continent, there are still numerous challenges to be overcome to fulfil the sector’s potential, particularly where the participation of smallholder farmers is concerned.

Over the last 11 years, ELIM has sought to contribute to the improvement of market conditions for sustainable smallholder participation in the region’s agricultural sector, starting with Mozambique. We employ a market systems approach to facilitate real systemic change for real, long-term, sustainable results for Southern Africa’s agro-entrepreneurs. .

  • Sustainable Project of Land and Water Resources Management (SLWRMP),The World bank Mozambique

    The AfDB-funded Sustainable Land and Water Resources Management Project (SLWRMP) sought to increase the capacity of communities to address the inter-linked challenges of adverse impacts of climate change, rural poverty, food insecurity and land degradation.  The Project was implemented in the four drought affected districts of Guija, Mabalane, Chicualacuala and Massengena and intended to reach a total 40,000 beneficiaries. Under the component of Agriculture Water Infrastructure Development, the project sought to introduce new small-scale irrigation systems to improve farmer yield in the Gaza Province.

  • Performance Evaluation of the Platform of Agriculture Research and Technology Innovation (PARTI), Mozambique

    The Platform for Agricultural Research and Technology Innovation (PARTI) helps increase agricultural productivity by developing and adopting improved agricultural policies and practices. PARTI is implemented by international agricultural research centers (lARCs) and paid for by the CGIAR Fund in partnership with a number of other donors.

  • Performance Audit of USAID/Mozambique’s Agriculture, Trade and Business (ATB) Portfolio, Mozambique

    The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a principal donor to Mozambique’s for over three decades. To promote broad-based economic growth, including growth in the agricultural and private sectors, USAID/Mozambique implements a variety of assistance projects through its Office of Agriculture, Trade, and Business (ATB). USAID has stated the ATB’s objective as “to achieve inclusive growth of targeted economic sectors by increasing private investment, employment, income, and exports”. In an effort to measure the impact of the ATB against its intermediate results of increasing agricultural productivity and improving the business environment in Mozambique, USAID/Southern Africa conducted an audit of the ATB’s portfolio.

Tangible Impact

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Tangible impact - Livelihood Vicoba

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Tangible impact - Livelihood Vicoba

Docinda Ngonga, 52 years old, is a smallholder farmer in Marracuene district, Mozambique. She lives with her husband and eight children, four of which are of school going age. In 2015, Docinda was one of 15 farmers trained by ELIM Serviços on Village Community Banking (VICOBA) as a member of the Marracuene Farmer’s Association. According to Docinda, the new knowledge about savings motivated her to invest in the bank, and subsequently take out loans that changed her quality of life. In 2016, Docinda borrowed from VICOBA to build her first brick and mortar home, an improvement from the precarious reed and straw dwelling that housed her family. In 2017, after repaying the first loan in full, she borrowed once again to fund the installation of electricity and piped water in her home, as well as begin a the construction of a second home for her expanding family. .