Flora Moftiço, an agro-dealer who has partnered with the Triple Resilience (3R) program in Mozambique, believes that empowering farmers with knowledge and quality inputs is the foundation of positive change in agriculture. As part of the program’s response to El Niño, Moftiço supported farmers with improved inputs for maize and horticulture production in a subsidized facilitation project.
This response has been instrumental in helping farmers combat the impacts of drought along the Beira Corridor. To strengthen the local input supply chain, 3R is facilitating input access to the most vulnerable farmers by strengthening the connectivity between agro-dealers and large input suppliers.
“It’s not just about selling products. It’s about creating a lasting impact, helping farmers secure their futures.”
Augusto Nhama, Agro-dealer
In its strategic approach to fostering resilience across the agriculture value chain, the 3R program collaborates with Moftiço and other local agro-dealers, many of whom were originally established or supported through the foundational efforts of previous initiatives, such as the Food security through climate Adaptation and Resilience (FAR-Sofala) and the Transfer Efficient Agricultural Technologies through Market Systems (TEAMS) programs funded by the Embassy of Sweden.
This continuity not only strengthens local agricultural market systems but also ensures long-term sustainability and resilience in the face of climate challenges.
“The results speak for themselves – farmers saw up to 60% higher yields with these new inputs,” Moftiço shared. “My demonstration plots showed that with the right support, crops can thrive even in the harshest environments.”
Through the 3R program’s support, farmers in the Beira Corridor have enhanced their yields and begun generating income from surplus crops.
Moftiço’s contribution has sparked a transformation in her community. Farmers are adopting sustainable practices and embracing innovation to secure their livelihoods. “Farmers are now more open to innovation,” she declared.
Further along the Beira Corridor in Búzi, TEAMS-supported agro-dealer Augusto Nhama has become a pillar of support for farmers in his community through his work with the 3R program.
“For me, it’s about making sure farmers have the resources they need to succeed, especially in times of uncertainty,” Nhama remarked.
Since 2018, Nhama has been collaborating with IFDC to provide farmers with affordable, drought-resistant seeds and quality inputs. His commitment goes beyond simply supplying these materials, however.
“What we’re doing here is teaching farmers how to make smarter decisions about what to plant and when,” Nhama explained.
By demonstrating the benefits of resilient crop varieties, Nhama has helped local farmers improve their practices and adapt to the challenges of a changing climate. When El Niño-driven conditions struck the region, many farmers were unsure how to cope with the prolonged dry spells.
Nhama’s guidance, coupled with the right inputs, made all the difference. “By choosing the right seeds, farmers saw a 50-60% increase in their yields,” he reported.
The results have been especially evident in the fields of farmers who once struggled to harvest enough to feed their families. Now, they are growing surplus crops and even selling them in local markets.
Nhama has also worked to strengthen local supply chains, ensuring that quality inputs are readily available without a long journey to distant markets. For example, he has established an input distribution network in the Búzi district in partnership with the village-based agents in the most remote areas.
This shift has drastically cut costs for farmers and increased Nhama’s business, particularly in fertilizers, where his annual sales have grown from just a few tons to over 100 tons. Despite the growth in his business, Nhama remains deeply focused on his community’s success.
“It’s not just about selling products,” he said. “It’s about creating a lasting impact, helping farmers secure their futures.”
Through the leadership of knowledgeable agro-dealers such as Moftiço and Nhama and with the 3R program’s resources, farmers in Búzi are not just surviving; they are building the resilience they need to thrive for generations to come.
The Triple Resilience (3R) program (2023-2027) aims to build and strengthen social, climate, and economic resilience in Mozambique by accelerating the shift from humanitarian aid to long-term sustainable development. 3R is funded by the Embassy of Sweden and is implemented by IFDC in partnership with Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), Associação Kwaedza Simukai Manica (AKSM), LevasFlor Foundation, União Provincial Dos Camponeses De Manica (UCAMA), União Provincial de Camponeses de Sofala (UPCS), and the International Economic Cooperation Institute (ICEI).
