CEDRIG Light
PDF ReportHorti-Sempre Phase 2, Nacala Corridor in Northern Mozambique
Overview
General Information
Author
Michael Fink
Last updated
June 2018
Overall goal
The overall objective of Horti-Sempre is to increase the annual net income of 25,000 smallholders by 30% against baseline by supporting the growth of the horticultural sector in Northern Mozambique in view of its proven importance as income creator.
Country
- Mozambique
Budget
6'500'000 CHF
Duration
01/2017 - 12/2020 (48 months)
Summary
Description
The overall objective of the Horti-Sempre Phase 2 Project is to increase smallholder’s annual net income by 30% against baseline by supporting the growth of the horticultural sector in Northern Mozambique in view of its proven importance as income creator. To fulfil its mission and reach the overall objective, Swisscontact proposes for Horti-sempre Phase 2 a logic of intervention based on three main Outcomes that unfold around three main project components namely (1) inputs and practices, (2) irrigation and (3) sector competitiveness. OUTCOME No 1: Productivity of horticultural smallholders in the Nacala Corridor in Northern Mozambique increased OUTCOME No 2: Horticultural smallholders in the Nacala Corridor in Northern Mozambique increased their area under irrigation OUTCOME No 3: Market responsiveness and competitiveness of the horti-cultural sector in Northern Mozambique is increased The three components will be complemented with two transversal topics: Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) throughout the different interventions and through special women targeted interventions and Access to existing funding options. Based on experience from Phase 1, Swisscontact beliefs that Horti-Sempre Phase 2 has the potential to reach 10'000 semi-commercial and 15'000 subsistence male and female smallholders in Northern Mozambique increasing their income by up to 30%.
Sectors of Intervention
- Agriculture
- Food security
- Rural development
- Water management
Documents
Images
-
Training on basic irrigation solutions -
Training on agricultural practices -
Construction of underground dam -
Protected horticulture cultivation -
Underground dam filled with water -
Basic irrigation solution in use (hip-pump)
Logos
Risk perspective
Hazards arising from environmental degradation
Hazard name
Degradation (land, soil, ecosystems, biodiversity)
Exposure
Yes
Consequence
Key consequences are lower yields due to degraded soil and higher need of farmers to use inputs (fertilizers)
Likelihood
Likely
Extent
Harmful
Risk Level
Medium risk
Hazard name
Water pollution (surface and subterranean)
Exposure
Yes
Comments
Water pollution mainly in peri-urban areas due to urban water and soil contamination (e.g. from factories, waste, etc.).
Consequence
Key consequences are the loss in product quality, as well as potential health risks for consumers. Assessment of hazard is difficult because of limited data availability on water and soil quality.
Likelihood
Likely
Extent
Slightly harmful
Risk Level
Low risk
Hazard name
Pests and epidemics
Exposure
Yes
Comments
Pests and epidemics occur because of poor crop rotation and lack of knowledge or availability of properly formulated defensives (pesticides, insecticides, fungicides). Pests and epidemics are ocurring more frequently during the hot and rainy season compared to the cold and dry season.
Consequence
Key consequences are crop losses (sometimes failure) and that farmers avoid production in warmer and wetter months of the year
Likelihood
Likely
Extent
Harmful
Risk Level
Medium risk
Natural hazards (hydro-meteorological and geological)
Hazard name
Heat waves
Exposure
Yes
Comments
According to the World Bank, the number of hot days per year increased by 25 in the last 40 years, and much of this has occurred during the southern hemisphere autumn. This corresponds to the first harvest cycle of many major grains across the country, with significant implications for agricultural pests and yields.
Consequence
Key consequences include a shortening of the growing season, crop failure (no yield) or crop losses (lower yields)
Likelihood
Very likely
Extent
Harmful
Risk Level
High risk
Hazard name
Droughts
Exposure
Not sure
Comments
Since the 1960s, mean rainfall has decreased by an average of 2.5 millimeters per month (3.1%) per decade. Increased rainfall over the northern regions, highly variable conditions in the central regions, and persistent drought periods coupled with episodic floods in the south. In Northern Mozambique, seasonal droughts are occurring, meaning that rains are delayed.
Consequence
Delayed rains result in loss of seeds of rainfed crops (e.g. maize) and the need to rebuy and re-sow crops
Likelihood
Likely
Extent
Harmful
Risk Level
Medium risk
Hazard name
Storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, strong winds, sandstorms
Exposure
Yes
Comments
Frequency of storms has increased, but events are seasonally concentrated and farmers normally wait with sowing until the risk has decreased.
Consequence
Destruction of basic infrastructure and crops in early stage of growth
Likelihood
Unlikely
Extent
Harmful
Risk Level
Low risk
Hazard name
Flash floods, floods
Exposure
Yes
Comments
The proportion of days with heavy rainfall events has increased by 2.6% per decade according to the World Bank. The number of days with heavy rainfall currently amounts to ~25 per year. However, events are seasonally concentrated and farmers normally wait with sowing until this risk is lower.
Consequence
Destruction of basic infrastructure and crops in early stage of growth, destruction of trade infrastructure (e.g. bridges and roads)
Likelihood
Likely
Extent
Harmful
Risk Level
Medium risk
Hazard name
Erratic Rains
Exposure
Yes
Comments
Recently, rainfalls in Northern Mozambique are out of usual patterns which farmers rely on. Tendency towards delayed rainfalls.
Consequence
It is difficult for farmers to predict the start of the rainy season. Due to a delayed start of the rainy season, the growing cycle is postponed into the hot season when it is difficult to produce horticulture. Higher risk of pests due to humidity.
Likelihood
Very likely
Extent
Harmful
Risk Level
High risk
Hazards arising from climate change (and climate variability)
Hazard name
General trends towards higher or lower mean annual temperatures
Exposure
No
Comments
Temperatures have generally increased by 0.6° C over the last fourty years, with particularly pronounced increases observed during the hot season (September - March). This increase has so far not considerably affected horticulture as the vegetables are produced during the drier and cooler winter months (April - August).
Hazard name
Changes in frequency and intensity of climatic extreme events and associated disasters (e.g. cold and heat waves, flood, drought, storms, hurricanes, cyclones)
Exposure
No
Comments
Frequency of floods is increasing in the country, but mostly in the South and Centre where Mozambique does not control the dam system on the main river (e.g. Limpopo, Save, etc.). Other events (hurricans, cyclones, etc.) are also concentrated in the South/Centre.
Hazard name
Shifts in season
Exposure
Yes
Comments
A shift of seasons is observed in Northern Mozambique. Average annual rainfall has remained similiar (or even slightly increased). However, the precipitation patterns have changed. More erratic and locally concentrated rainfall is observed which often results in floods and a shorter growing season.
Consequence
Shorter growing season, longer idle season (hunger period - epoca de fome), unpredictability of sowing time, loss of first seeds (investment), extension of growing season into warmer months, loss of 1 or more production cycles
Likelihood
Very likely
Extent
Harmful
Risk Level
High risk
Detailed risk assessment needed?
Impact perspective
Estimate impact on the environment
Environmental Area
Ecosystems
Component of the activity
Underground Dams
Impact on environment
Small-scale rainwater retention increasing soil humidity potentially changing the ecosystem; limited additional pollution due to the plastic used to build the dam
Environmental Area
Soil
Component of the activity
Inputs (Fertilizer & Pesticides)
Impact on environment
Use of fertilizer and pesticides by horticulture smallholders is common. However, the used amounts are very limited due to a lack of financial resources. Thus, a small negative impact on the soils can be expected. The Project only gives technical advice following a market-approach and does not directly promote and increased use of fertilizers and pesticides for the horticultural production.
Estimate impact on climate change
Component of the activity
Increasing volumes and de-seasonalization of horticulture production
Impacts on climate change
Possibly decreasing emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) due to local horticultural production and shorter transport routes. The international and inter-regional imports might decrease due to a higher availability of locally produced vegetables.
Comments
Soil degradation is frequently the result of poor conservation practices (no soil coverage, deep tillage, poor biodiversity) aggravated by heavy rains. Consequently, more inputs are needed resulting in a vicious circle of degradation.