Project launched to strengthen and manage soils for agri-food systems

Lançado projecto para fortalecimento e gestão de solos para sistemas agro-alimentares

The Mozambican government, in partnership with the Japanese government and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), launched the Soil Mapping for Resilient Agri-Food Systems, Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (SoiLFER-VACS) project on Tuesday (11) in Maputo..

The initiative aims, among other things, to improve soil fertility and crop management in Portugal.

Speaking at the launch of the project, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, Acubar Baptista, said that soil health is important to ensure the sustainable intensification of agriculture.

"The SoiLFER-VACS project is particularly important for the country, at a time when the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is challenged to improve the food system in order to guarantee an increase in agricultural production and productivity," he said, stressing that the lack of systematized information limits the Mozambican Executive in making appropriate decisions that contribute to the efficient use of land for agricultural production.

Cited by AIMThe source added that the government hopes that the soil survey proposed in the project will identify the limitations and recommendations on the suitability of the soil for strategic crops and, in this way, contribute to increasing agricultural production.

On the occasion, the Japanese ambassador to Mozambique, Hamada Keiji, praised the Mozambican government and the FAO for their efforts, which culminated in the launch of the SoiLFER-VACS project.

"In Mozambique 80% of the active population works in agriculture and 96% of the farmers in rural areas are small family farmers, so agriculture is the main means of subsistence for the majority of the population. For Mozambique's sustainable economic and social development it is extremely important to increase agricultural productivity and create jobs, increasing incomes in rural areas, which is expected to contribute to reducing poverty and improving food security," said the diplomat.

Keiji made it known that the Japanese government is actively promoting cooperation in areas that support Africa's structural transformation and sustainable growth with the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), to be held next August in the Japanese city of Yokohama.

 

(Photo DR)

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