Supporting artisanal fishers affected by Cyclone Kenneth in Mozambique
19 October 2020, Maputo – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Mozambique Government, is supporting artisanal fishers severely affected by Tropical Cyclone Kenneth by distributing fishing kits to continue their livelihoods.
The kits, consisting of 211 gillnets and 101 handline sets, will assist the fishing communities of Ibo, Quissanga, Metuge and Pemba districts in Cabo Delgado province to recover from the natural disaster. Women are included among the beneficiaries.
Cyclone Kenneth hit northern Mozambique in April 2019. This was the second cyclone reaching the country in six weeks, following Cyclone Idai the previous month. Cyclone Kenneth was the first to reach the northern part of the country. Entire villages were destroyed and thousands of people were displaced in a country that had already dealt with the consequences of drought. Over 55 400 hectares of crops were destroyed, and many coastal fishing villages lost their boats and equipment.
FAO and the Government of Mozambique presented the official hand-over of fishing gear kits last month in Pemba city. The presentation was chaired by Armindo Ngunga, Secretary of State of Cabo Delgado Province. Various members of the Representative Services of the State Council of the province were in attendance.
"The fishing gear provided should help to increase fishing production and the improvement of incomes," Ngunga said during his address. He also referred to the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the country and that the fishing sector plays an important role in securing healthy and nutritious food for the population.
The project "Building back sustainable artisanal fisheries affected by Cyclone Kenneth" is funded by FAO's Technical Cooperation Programme and has also distributed bicycles and cool boxes to maintain help bring fresh fish to markets in the districts. Training of the affected fisherfolk on good hygiene practices, fish value addition techniques, safety at sea and business planning is also being implemented under the project and will continue into 2021.