Mozambique

The programme strengthens the full soil information cycle—from field surveys and laboratory analysis to digital information systems, crop suitability assessments and fertilizer recommendations—ensuring that soil information becomes operational and accessible for decision-making. Activities support the development of high-resolution soil information, strengthened laboratory systems and improved national capacities to generate, manage and use soil data. Under the VACS framework, SoilFER in Mozambique and Tunisia promotes climate-resilient and locally adapted agricultural systems by connecting soil health, crop selection and nutrient management. Field validation and sustainable soil and fertilizer management trials support the development of practical recommendations that improve fertilizer use efficiency, strengthen crop productivity and enhance resilience to climatic and market shocks.

Ministério da Agricultura e Desenvolvimento Rural (MADER) – Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; IIAM – Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique (Mozambique Agricultural Research Institute).

The programme benefits:

• National institutions responsible for agriculture, soils, land and natural resource management
• Soil laboratories and technical agencies involved in soil analysis and data management
• Extension services and advisory providers
• Policymakers and planners developing evidence-based agricultural and land-use policies
• Researchers, universities and technical experts
• Farmers and producer organizations benefiting from improved soil management recommendations and decision-support tools

Capacity development embedded throughout the process helps ensure sustainability beyond the programme cycle.

Selected activities include:

• Institutional coordination established and operational arrangements agreed.
• Sampling design and field planning prepared for operational rollout.
• Laboratory and analysis readiness activities initiated.
• Development and enhancement of Soil Information Systems (SIS/NSIS) and digital soil services.
• Crop suitability and fertilizer recommendation modelling.
• Second season of field validation and sustainable soil and fertilizer management trials.
• Capacity development through training, technical guidance and digital tools.

Mozambique has completed the national SoilFER-VACS sampling campaign and is progressing toward analysis and advisory-oriented outputs. Work links sampling and laboratory analysis with the development of integrated soil-crop management approaches, including field trials that support fertilizer recommendation modelling.

Progress highlights:

• Establishment of institutional coordination mechanisms and operational arrangements to support national implementation and long-term sustainability.
• Formal establishment of the National Soil Partnership to strengthen soil governance and multi-stakeholder collaboration underway.
• Completion of the national soil sampling campaign, generating harmonized datasets to support soil monitoring and evidence-based planning.
• Training of national teams on field protocols, digital data capture and sample handling procedures to ensure consistency and data quality throughout the survey campaign.
• Strengthening of laboratory infrastructure, analytical workflows and quality assurance procedures to support harmonized soil analysis and reliable soil data generation
• Completion of CRNS-related technical and laboratory training to strengthen monitoring and analytical capacities
• Development of legacy soil data repositories and consolidation of historical soil information for integration into the forthcoming national Soil Information System (SIS/NSIS) and digital soil services
• Preparation of soil, land-use and analytical datasets to support crop suitability assessment and soil–crop matching approaches under the VACS framework
• Advancement of fertilizer recommendation modelling and integrated soil-crop management approaches through field validation and sustainable soil and fertilizer management trials (1 maize fertilization trial reported).
• Preparation of decision-support and advisory-oriented services that will translate soil and crop information into practical guidance for policymakers, extension services and farmers.
• Capacity development through technical training, knowledge exchange and digital tools to support sustainable national soil information and advisory systems.

Programme coordination: soilfer@fao.org | FAO Represenatation in Mozambique: FAO-MZ@fao.org  

• Rogério Rafael – National Project Coordinator
• Eusebio Bie – Technical Specialist in Digital Soil Mapping, Soil Information and Data
• Oscar Chichongue – Technical Specialist in Soil Laboratories
• Rosalina Tamele – Technical Specialist in Soil Management and Fertility
• Marìa Legaristi Royo – Communications focal point
• Yusuf Yigini/Wanderson De Sousa Mendes – FAO Headquarters focal point/Alternate focal point

• FAO in Mozambique
• Global Soil Partnership