Soya bean production and marketing in Northern Mozambique

The Norwegian Farmers Cooperative, Felleskjøpet, implemented a pilot project during the planting seasons of 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 for export to Norway. In the first harvest some 80 metric tonnes were exported to Norway in order to test the logistics. From the 2003/ Soya bean production has grown from almost non-existent to around a thousand metric tonnes per annum.The results of the piloting encouraged stakeholders to enter into a medium-term project (2007 to 2011), aimed at supporting the expansion of Soya bean production and marketing in the Nacala corridor area, mainly through knowledge transfer. The production will be concentrated in the areas of Gurue and Lioma (Northern Zambezia) while other areas may be served on a demand basis. Budgeted at NOK 22,5 mil for a five-year period, the project is being coordinated by CLUSA – Cooperative League of the USA, close collaboration with Government of Mozambique. The partially farmers’ owned trading company – IKURU takes responsibility for the purchase of the production from farmers.The goal of this project is to improve the income of farmers by 10% per annum in the areas of intervention, and increase volumes of Soya bean production and marketing by farmers. Total volume of Soya bean production expected to reach 5,500 tons/year by year 5.