Bilateral meeting with H.E. Roberto Mito Albino, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries of the Republic of Mozambique

Rome – The FAO Director General met with H.E.​Roberto Mito Albino, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries of the Republic of Mozambique on the margins of the 44th Session of the FAO Ministerial Conference at FAO headquarters. 

The Director-General welcomed the Minister and congratulated him on his recent appointment. He also acknowledged and appreciated the longstanding, strategic relationship and strong cooperation between FAO and Mozambique. 

The Minister thanked the Director-General for the support extended to the country through various programmes, noting the strategic importance of aligning the government’s national plan with FAO's Strategic Framework highlighting that this would expedite the country’s objective for agrifood system transformation and to achieve its food security goals. The Minister further indicated that the government recognized the added advantage of a holistic approach to facilitate streamlining to achieve food security, eliminate silos and accelerate momentum. In this regard, the Minister informed that the government was working with the World Bank to design the country's Master Plan, and that a new programmed called “Feed Mozambique” had been established with the objective to improve and change the agriculture sector in Mozambique, with the private sector playing a pivotal role to assist smallholder farmers. 

Finally, the Minister stated the government would continue to work with FAO on mechanisms for identifying programmes for capacity building of farmers, while also paying attention to those affected by cyclones and floods.  

The Director-General commended the government's holistic approach and design of the agrifood system and committed FAO to provide assistance in the form of experts for water management to develop coherent approaches to sustainable land and water management, as well as fisheries and soil management. 

The Director-General also invited the Minister to reach out to the FAO Investment Centre for advice and guidance on how the country could attract investment through policy direction and drawing up investment plans. He further encouraged the government of Mozambique to seize the opportunity of the World Food Forum in October to promote the country and to interact and attract potential investors during the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum.