Integrated development partnership with fertilizer company in Mozambique
More than 80% of the economically active population in Mozambique practices small-scale farming. At less than five percent, the prevalence of fertilizer use by these farmers is one of the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa, which results in one of the lowest agricultural productivity rates in the region.
As part of the Sustainable Economic Development Programme (Pro-Econ) 2013 – 2016 implemented by GIZ, GFA has joined forces with Greenbelt, a Mozambican fertilizer company, in promoting effective fertilizer use by small-scale farmers. The initiative aims at increasing the productivity and improving farmers` yields and income. The costs of implementation are shared with the private sector in an Integrated Development Partnership (iDPP).
GIZ has set up the iDPP instrument to achieve both business objectives of the private partner and development goals for mutual benefits. Pro-Econ is one of the first GIZ programs that applies the instrument systematically and makes good use of the knowledge and business dynamics of the private sector partners.
The GFA-assisted iDPP with Greenbelt from June to December 2014 addresses main factors that have prevented Mozambican farmers to make effective use of fertilizers in the past. First of all, farmers are made aware of the potential for production increases. As fertilizers are usually sold in large quantities and in few urban centers only, access to fertilizers at affordable cost is another key objective of the project.
Accordingly, joint activities cover a comprehensive awareness and capacity building program in two districts that includes demonstration plots, illustrative training material, measurement cups for different fertilizer blends and crops, and field days for disseminating innovative approaches. Since fertilizer use is not the only factor to increase productivity, capacity building is combined with knowledge on improved seeds, conservation agriculture and pest control techniques. Another activity line entails the establishment of a supply network of commercial rural agro dealers. The latter should bring the product closer to the farmer and develop small fertilizer packages tailored to the farmers’ purchasing power. The dealers are trained in business skills such as financial and stock management, and sales techniques that incorporate advisory services for farmer customers to ensure the commercial viability of the supply network. The partnership was selected to become a pilot initiative within the National Fertiliser Promotion Platform of the Ministry of Agriculture as part of the Governmental Agriculture Sector Development Strategy.
