The Republic of Mozambique is located on the south-east Coast of Africa, between 11 and 27 degrees South Latitude. It has a population of about 18 Million inhabitants, with about 72% classified as rural and 28% as urban. 

The country has a large agricultural potential. Rainfall ranges between 800-1200 for the middle and northern parts of the country, falling mainly during the period November-April. The southern part is of lower rainfall regime ranging between (400-500 mm). Although soil fertility and soil types vary considerably, many of the cultivated areas already suffer from severe nutrient depletion and soil degradation through erosion. 

Currently, about 3.5 million ha are under cultivation. This represents only a small fraction of the total potentially arable area. Maize and cassava are the most widely grown crops groundnuts and grain legumes (cowpea, beans, pigeon peas, etc.). Average yields are very low, with maize yielding about 700 kg/ha, cassava a little over 1 ton/ha (dry wt.), groundnuts about 350 kg/ha and rice about 900 kg/ha. 

Most farmers cultivate small areas (1-2 ha), have not adopted improved agronomic methods and the use of external inputs (i.e. chemical fertilizers and agro-chemicals and to a large extent, seed of improved varieties) is almost non-existent. 

Mozambique’s National Research (INIA), Extension Service (DNER), Sasakawa Global 2000 (also called SG2000, an NGO), Agroquimicos Ltda. (local private sector agro-chemical company) and Monsanto Life Science believe that the zero-tillage technology can make a major contribution to the intensification of agriculture in Mozambique. They have thus embarked on a collaborative effort, aimed at introducing this technology to Mozambican small scale farmers. 

Expected Advantages of Zero-Tillage 

Initial discussions were held between staff of INIA, DNER and SG2000, to discuss the relevancy of zero-tillage to Mozambique. These discussions were supplemented with technical visits of some Mozambican staff, to visit the Zero-Tillage Program in Ghana, as that country is in a more advanced stage of introducing this technology. These partners believed that zero-tillage would be an appropriate technology for Mozambique, because it offered the following advantages: 

Area Expansion 

Small scale farmers are limited in the area they can cultivate. With a low capital investment (knap-sack sprayer), they can expand their area current area cultivated (1-2 ha) to 5-10 ha. 

Weed Control 

The use of the systemic herbicide, Glyphosate (Roundup) and a mulch cover, can reduce the weed infestations, making follow-up weed control easier and in cases of severe infestation, actually bring abandoned land back into production. 

Conservation of Soil and Water 

Much of the land has significant slopes, which when cultivated, are extremely susceptible to soil erosion. The productivity of these lands can be drastically reduced in a short 1-3 year period. A mulched surface can help capture and retain rain-water. Although rainfall is generally sufficient, it is not well distributed 

Labor Saving in Land Preparation and Weed Control 

Chemical power can reduce the amount and type of labor used/ha. 

Reduce Burning 

Loss of Organic Matter is currently tremendous. 
 

A Collaborative Project 

DNER, INIA and SG2000 then proceeded to make contact with Monsanto and Agroquimicos and proposed a collaborative project to work on introducing this technology to Mozambican farmers. Monsanto agreed to provide the technical support of a zero-tillage expert and Agrochemicos Ltda. also agreed that 3 of it’s technical staff would participate. Thus a team approach was adopted from the onset. 

Training 

To introduce a zero-tillage technology, a one day seminar was held prior to the beginning of the 1996/97 season in Maputo. This seminar was lead by the Monsanto consultant, with all interested parties participating. 

This was quickly followed with 1-2 day practical training sessions in Manica, Nampula and Cabo Delgado Provinces. The technology was introduced to provincial DNER and INIA staff and selected farmers. They were also trained in the use and maintenance of knap-sack sprayers. The training sessions were lead by the Monsanto Consultant, with support from selected DNER, INIA and Agroquimicos staff. SG2000 collaborated technically and with partial financial support of the training effort. 

The short duration practical training programme also preceded the 1997/98 season, with more extension staff and farmers included. This time the training in the original 3 provinces was handled by Mozambican technical and training staff from DNER and INIA. The training program was expanded to include Gaza and Sofala Provinces, associated mainly with rice production. Those training sessions were again lead by the Monsanto consultant with collaboration from DNER, INIA, SG2000 and Agroquimicos. 

Zero-Tillage as Part of a Technical Package 

It was decided that this technology should be introduced as an additional component of the existing technical package being promoted by DNER/SG2000. That package combined the use of improved varieties, chemical fertilizer and a package of agronomic practices (proper planting date, plant density and good weed control). Thus zero-tillage would be part of an overall high-yield strategy. 

Input Supply Considerations 

As the zero-tillage technology being promoted utilizes glyphosate, discussions began early with Monsanto and Agroquimicos Ltda., concerning the eventual supply and availability of glyphosate. The project is trying to promote the development of an input retailing network, to make seed, fertilizer, glyphosate and other production inputs available to farmers. Other partners are involved with this effort. Both glyphosate liquid and Roundup Dry will be made available to farmers for purchase in areas where the project is active. 

Details of the 1997/98 Season’s Activities 

As the 1996/97 season was largely a practice run and first time exposure of the technology to extension staff, the following will focus on activities in the Manica Province in the 1997/98 season. A similar level of activities occurred in Nampula province and to a lesser extent in Cabo Delgado. Activities in Gaza and Sofala were introductory and exploratory. 

During this season, in Manica, 205 farmers established ½ ha Maize demonstration plots under conventional tillage (C.T.), using the maize variety Matuba (White Flint O.P. Variety), 100 kg/ha of 12-24-12 and 100 kg of urea/ha and a good package of agronomic practices. Each of these farmers also planted 1000 m², using the same package under zero-till. There were also 27 no-till Maize demonstration plots, ½ ha in size, established by the Extension staff. 

During the 2^nd season (Feb.) of 1997/98, 100 zero-tillage demonstration plots, of ¼ ha were established with beans (P. vulgaris) in Manica. In all cases, these fields were slashed back and 15-20 cm of re-growth occurred prior to the application of glyphosate. 

INIA researchers established station trials, in order to monitor crop development, weeds and insect infestation, and to try other crops like sunflowers. 

Experience gained, and Lessons learned 

To date we have not focused heavily on data collection, but rather on allowing extension staff and farmers to gain experience with herbicide application, planting into the mulch, etc. Following we share some of our observations and experiences to date: 

During the 1997/98 season, in the maize zero-tillage demonstration, we experienced problems of getting the inputs to the farmers on time. This resulted in late planting in most cases and correspondingly lower yields in most zero-tillage plots, when compared to the conventional tillage. Where planting was on time, we observed good yields comparable to those of C.T. (yields averaging about 3.7 ton/ha, where the technology was well implemented, as compared to yields of 1 t/ha or less, where no-modern technology was applied). The farmers, being keen observers, realized that the low yields were due to late planting but not to the technology. They wish to try again, and demanded that the inputs were made available on time. All participating farmers were highly impressed with the effect of glyphosate and wished to have it for future use. 

It is rather difficult and more experience is required, to establish a good zero-tillage field coming out of a bush fallow situation, as compared to establishing it in a field that was cultivated the previous year. Coming out of fallow the weed growth is usually so intense, that the fields must first be slashed back and re-growth allowed before application of glyphosate. This process requires advance planning, so that the field situation will allow planting on time. In cases where the farmer does not slash, the vegetation will die back slower requiring an additional application of glyphosate. Also the vegetation might take time to collapse and decompose enough to permit easy planting. 

Follow-up weed control is generally easier in zero-tillage plots, due to lower weed population in the well mulched situations. Care must be taken in planting to make sure that the seed is well placed beneath the soil surface. 

Seedling damage from insects and rodents can be of concern when planting into a deep mulch. It was further noted that beans/legumes seeds suffer less damage from insects than maize seeds. 

Practicing zero-tillage is a gradual process of learning and it takes time for both technical staff and farmers to gain experience. This allows for the exercise of considerable creativity among farmers and technical staff. The enthusiasm of the farmers is great and they are willing to work with technical staff in overcoming the problems in implementing the zero-tillage technology. 

Future Plans 

In depth compilation and evaluation of our positive and negative experiences to date. Meetings will be held in each province with technical staff and farmers, to improve on the work done to date. 

Continue with practical training of more farmers and extension staff. 

Identify applied research opportunities and conduct simple on-farm experiments and where appropriate, on-station. 

Emphasize data collection, including yield data, during the 1998/99 season in a systematic manner. 

Intensify the development of the input supply system. In addition to the availability of glyphosate, sprayers for sale and rental should be made available through the retail outlets. It should be remembered also that the availability of good seed and fertilizer is also essential. Investment in zero-tillage will not occur under low yield situations. Inputs must all be made available on time. 

Intensify work with follow-up herbicide use, to enable good weed control and to save labor. At low yield potential levels, poor weed control causes less real yield reduction than at high yield potential. Poor weed control (usually too late) is often not due to the fault of the farmer, but due to difficult climatic situations and lack of timely labor availability. Lack of good weed control is the single most important factor in the array of agronomic practices which the farmer finds most difficult to implement. Thus we view a role for herbicides. 

Use of mucuna to replace weeds, as the dominant vegetation which takes over the cropped field following harvest. The farmer would thus be planting into a mucuna mulch, rather than into a weed mulch. The additional advantages coming from the nitrogen fixation, as well as reduced weed pressure, will contribute to reduced production costs.