Mozambique’s 2024 rice imports reached a record $441 million, up 38.8% from 2023 due to rising consumption and declining domestic production, which fell by 34%. These trends, linked to adverse climatic conditions and poor agricultural infrastructure, underline growing reliance on foreign imports, raising concerns over food security in the nation. Government investment could mitigate these issues and strengthen the agricultural sector.
In 2024, Mozambique reported a record high in rice imports, indicative of its increasing dependence on foreign sources to meet essential food needs. According to an annual statistical report by the Bank of Mozambique, the country allocated $441 million for rice imports, reflecting a 38.8% increase from $317.7 million spent in 2023. This surge in imports has been attributed to rising domestic consumption combined with declining production figures due to several systemic and climatic challenges affecting agriculture.
Statistical data from the National Institute of Statistics indicates that rice production in 2023 plummeted by 34% to 161,800 tons, the lowest output in five years. Several other food crops also experienced production declines, with experts linking these downturns to adverse climatic conditions, including droughts and floods, as well as a lack of vital investments in irrigation, quality seeds, and agricultural assistance.
With local production failing to meet demand, Mozambique increasingly relies on imported rice, a strategy that raises concerns regarding vulnerability to global food price fluctuations and exacerbates food insecurity among the nation’s impoverished populations.
The agricultural sector has also seen a downturn in maize production, which fell by 11% to 2.12 million tons in 2023, compared to 2.38 million tons in 2022. This decline follows a period of increased production in 2022, which had seen a nearly 30% rise relative to 2021. Additionally, key cereals like sorghum and millet encountered significant production drops, with sorghum decreasing by 15% to 139,553 tonnes and millet declining by 32% to just 17,098 tonnes.
These production shortfalls together with soaring imports pose significant concerns, especially for a nation where agriculture employs the majority and constitutes over one-fifth of its GDP. Despite worsening climatic conditions, Mozambique has the potential to enhance agricultural outputs if the government commits to necessary investments in the sector. A recent report from the Inclusive Growth in Mozambique development programme emphasizes the urgent need for long-term governmental investment into climate resilience and structural improvements, which could diminish reliance on costly foreign imports while simultaneously fostering job creation, income generation, and enhanced food security for millions of Mozambicans, thereby fortifying the national economy.
In conclusion, Mozambique’s record rice imports in 2024 highlight a critical reliance on foreign food supplies amid declining local agricultural production. Adverse climatic conditions and insufficient structural investments further threaten food security. However, with appropriate governmental investments in agriculture, Mozambique could not only reduce import dependency but also bolster its economy and improve the livelihoods of its citizens.
Original Source: macaonews.org
