The project is doing this by training hundreds of local, small-scale farmers to become commercially successful.

“Currently, we have 150 farmers generating around 30 tonnes of produce per month for the CB Farm Fresh, Tsebo Servco value chain and the local markets,” explains Tim Makin, chief executive officer at Tsebo Servco.

Looking into the future, within a five-year period, CB Farm Fresh and Tsebo Servco plans to identify 300 top farmers who will cover an area of 4000 hectares under irrigation. With each hector employing three people, this will see over 12 000 jobs created and subsequently benefitting thousands of the people of Mozambique.

“In the long run, the Mizimo Farm Project will contribute towards building sustainable local agriculture, on a commercial scale, and create numerous jobs for Mozambicans.”

The intensive nature of Mozambique’s capital growth has created limited jobs and has had a less than favourable impact on poverty reduction. To minimise this problem, the Tsebo Servco farming school will be growing its role, and will also be used to teach women from local communities to set up ancillary micro-businesses around the farmers such as seedlings and compost production. There is also a youth development programme underway, to teach life skills including basic finance.

“Mozambique is a country where many are hungry and the land’s agricultural potential is not being fully realised. As such, the Fasenda Mizimo Farm Project aims to strengthen local agriculture and invest back into it by procuring produce from programme graduates, for local and export distribution,” Makin concludes.

For more information, visit the Tsebo Servco website.