The 15 million euro project to strengthen food and nutrition security for 125,000 beneficiaries in Cabo Delgado province has been launched.

The project has been handed over by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to a consortium of partners who will implement it.

According to an information note to which we have had access, the new five-year AgroVida program aims to support small-scale local food producers in the province to create agricultural sustainability and economic empowerment.

The AgroVida consortium is made up of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Gapi, ADPP Mozambique, SmartFarming BV, Associação h2n and ThirdWay Partners.

The project aims to improve the lives of farmers and their families. The idea is to help 24,500 farmers cultivate better, so that more than 125,000 people have sustainable access to diversified and healthy food.

To this end, the project will use the experience and commitment of organizations that have been present in the region for several years: the Aga Khan Foundation, leader of the consortium, the ADPP Mozambique, a SmartFarming BV, a Gapi, a h2n association, and ThirdWay Partners. The Netherlands are donor partners. Talks are still underway to include other partners, both implementing partners and donors.

The project aims to achieve four main objectives: to produce food in a way that respects nature, and the sea in particular; to help farmers and fishermen earn more and have more economic capacity, especially women and young people; to teach and share ways of adopting a healthier diet; and to improve the environment in which people live and work.

This project doesn't just focus on one part of food production, but looks at the whole, from the field to the table, also thinking about the climate and people's work. It's an intervention thinking about the future, the health and the economy of the region.

AgroVida seeks to improve local agriculture using innovative and sustainable methods. The idea is to harness the role and capacity of experienced farmers and intermediaries to boost rural development.

"This program is part of the long history of bilateral cooperation between the governments of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Mozambique, which will celebrate 50 years next year.

Investment in rural youth, especially in agriculture and agribusiness, is the priority of this program.

We believe that young people have the energy to drive the economic development of Cabo Delgado province through their commitment to strengthening food systems and eradicating chronic malnutrition in a context where the impact of climate change is undeniable, said Jurriaan Middelhoff - Ambassador for Youth, Education and Labor of the Kingdom of the Netherlands."

Around Agostinho Mamade, AKF Mozambique Country Director, noted that "the AgroVida initiative is a beacon of opportunity in Cabo Delgado, designed to nourish both the land and the lives of those who depend on it.

Through this partnership, we aim to create an environment where local farmers can thrive, leading to a more resilient and food-secure future.

It is our hope that this program will not only improve agricultural practices, but also strengthen the social fabric of these communities, promoting long-term stability and hope."