Mozambique Irrigation Systems

While attending the “Feeding Africa: Food Sovereignty and Resilience conference in Dakar, the President of Mozambique announced that $ 2.9 bBillion will be channeled to agriculture infrastructure, corridors development, in addition to irrigation projects within the next four years.  The country’s extreme vulnerability to climate change and alternating cyclone, flood, and drought events often cripple farmers’ ability to grow crops. Furthermore, less than half of the irrigation systems established in the country are functional. 

World Bank states reported that agriculture contributed to 27.5% of GDP in 2021. The sector holds great potential due to Mozambique’s unused arable land, amounting to 36 million hectares, as well as favorable agro-ecological conditions. The sector will contribute to growth recovery because of ongoing investments in distribution systems yield returns, as well irrigation infrastructure. 

Mozambique’s vast coastline along the Indian Ocean provides plentiful access to water transportation. Although the southern coastal areas have low water levels and vast swamps, which increase the chance of severe flooding, the center and north benefit from drainage by several lakes and rivers. These include Zambezi River and Zambezi Lake, Rovuma River, Cahora Bassa Lake, Lake Niassa, and Chiuta Lake. Mozambique’s National Irrigation Program (PNI) consists of reforms and investments to address critical irrigation development. PNI aims to establish an additional 125,500 hectares (32,000 public and 90,500 private) of irrigated land by 2042.
 
Moreover, other agriculture development initiatives – including Sustenta, Irriga, MozFIP3, and MozBio – intend to improve irrigation infrastructure by carrying out or aiding activities designed to rehabilitate irrigation systems and establish market linkages to smallholder farmers. In addition to regulatory framework development and capacity building, such initiatives aim to finance smallholder irrigation engineering designs to improve water availability and resilience of irrigation services.

Under the U.S.–Mozambique Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019, the two countries agreed to cooperate in the development of sustainable irrigation facilities and related infrastructure, including construction of water reservoirs for agricultural development. Both countries are counting on the participation of U.S. companies to lead the development and implementation of the distinguished projects. U.S. companies that can offer drip irrigation systems and related equipment, which can be powered by solar energy, are encouraged to pursue opportunities in the Mozambique market.

For more information, contact us at office.maputo@trade.gov