Aligning trade and agriculture policies to increase food security

Although agriculture is seen as a catalyst for development in Mozambique, some crucial factors such as trade barriers have been identified as a major constraint in promoting agricultural productivity, improving the value chain and promoting food security.

To improve the coherence of policy and coordination mechanisms between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MASA) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIC) in the country, FAO, has been designing a project in the area of trade aimed at raising and strengthening institutional capacity building in this sector in the countries of East and Southern Africa, which was discussed at a technical seminar held on Thursday (19 April).

The aim of the seminar was to facilitate dialogue between relevant ministries in this field and to encourage the implementation of coherent and appropriate policies and strategies.

Mozambique is one of the four pilot countries involved in the implementation of this initiative, in which FAO, together with the European Center for Policy Management (ECDPM) and the Integrated Development Framework (EIF), have identified gaps and potential synergies between agriculture and trade sectors, the programmes, policies and coordination mechanisms in these countries.

FAO Programme Officer Eugénio Macamo explained during the meeting that "the overall objective of the project document prepared is to contribute to the development of a coherent framework of national policies in the area of agricultural trade, a framework for better alignment of interventions policy that promotes the most efficient and strategic use of public and private resources. "

The FAO Programme Officer emphasized that "dialogue between these institutions can enable favorable conditions for producers to take real advantage of the value chain, to get up-to-date information on market prices of products and to obtain more income, which would create more opportunities for the benefit of producers involved in trade in agricultural products."

This initiative is aligned with the Malabo Declaration where African heads of state have pledged to promote trade between African states in agricultural products and services to enhance market opportunities and local, regional and international trade.