52 Profiles on Agroecology: Agroecological practices of the small scale farmers of Ramiene In Nampula province, Mozambique

52 Profiles on Agroecology: Agroecological practices of the small scale farmers of Ramiene In Nampula province, Mozambique

Editor

FAO ;

Descripción

Mozambique has a population of about 25 million people. Most live in rural areas and rely on farming for all or part of their household income. Located on Africa’s south-eastern seaboard, the country encompasses biodiversity sites of great significance. Mozambique was in the past a colony of Portugal. The Portuguese settlers were allocated large pieces of land, while most of the working population engaged in manual labour. Agricultural production was focused on increasing the supply of raw mater ials to Portugal. In the two years following independence in 1975 and prior to the outbreak of civil war in 1977, the new Mozambican state concentrated on the agricultural sector making provision for inputs, controlling prices and setting up marketing channels. Today agriculture is said to account for 25% of Mozambique’s gross domestic product (GDP) and the sector employs 80% of the workforce. Women constitute 60% of those working in agriculture (ACB, 2015).