Document

Studies conducted in several African countries, including Mozambique, show poor preference of yellow maize when compared to white maize, and there are few studies in Mozambique that examine the factors determining the consumption of yellow maize. The present study examined the social, personal and psychological factors that influence the consumption of yellow maize. The research was carried out in the province of Maputo, in southern Mozambique, using a sample size of 213 households, selected randomly. For data analysis, binary logistic regression was used in STATA 15. The results show that education and producing yellow maize have a positive relationship with its consumption, while the variable age and hired employment have a negative statistically significant relationship. The study show the potential for the acceptance of yellow maize by the younger, low-income people, people with some formal education and by families who adhere to yellow maize production. 

Mid-term Evaluation of IKI project “Growing Greener: Restoration and sustainable agropastoral systems in open arid landscapes across Southern Africa (Growing Greener)”

Summary of Mid-term Evaluation of IKI project “Growing Greener: Restoration and sustainable agropastoral systems in open arid landscapes across Southern Africa (Growing Greener)”

A pecuária em Moçambique depende fortemente da disponibilidade e qualidade das forragens, sendo o capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Cameroon roxo) uma alternativa estratégica devido ao seu elevado potencial produtivo e adaptabilidade às condições tropicais. O estudo foi conduzido durante a época seca em Moçambique, com o objectivo de avaliar o efeito de diferentes alturas de resíduo (10, 20, 30 e 40 cm) sobre o crescimento, estrutura morfológica e produtividade do capim-elefante. Foram utilizadas parcelas experimentais padronizadas, com medições de altura do dossel, número de folhas e perfilhos, produtividade da massa verde e seca, percentagem da massa seca, e cálculo da relação folha:colmo. O delineamento experimental adoptado foi o de Blocos Completamente Casualizados (DBCC), com quatro repetições por tratamento. O maneio de corte do capim-elefante mostrou que alturas de resíduo mais elevadas (30–40 cm) favorecem a rebrota, preservam meristemas activos e mantêm o dossel pré-corte, alcançando até 0,95 m no segundo corte, contra 0,69 m no resíduo de 10 cm. O número de folhas manteve-se estável (61–75 folhas por perfilho), enquanto o perfilhamento aumentou em resíduos maiores, atingindo até 56,5 perfilhos no segundo corte, contribuindo para a persistência da pastagem. A produtividade de massa verde e matéria seca foi superior nos cortes com resíduos elevados, chegando a 33,25 t ha⁻¹ e 13,45 t ha⁻¹, respectivamente, reflectindo maior acumulação de biomassa e qualidade da forragem. Portanto, cortes conservativos entre 30 e 40 cm equilibram produtividade e persistência, garantindo forragem de alta qualidade durante a época seca. 

This study aimed to characterize the morpho-structural traits of indigenous goats reared at the Chobela Research Station located in Chobela neighbourhood, Magude District, southern Mozambique. A total of 137 goats were selected, comprising 77 Landim and 60 Pafúri animals. Qualitative (morphological) traits were assessed through visual inspection and summarized using frequencies and percentages, while quantitative (morphometric) traits were measured using a zoometric tape and analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a 5% significance level. Due to low expected frequencies in some qualitative trait categories, inferential analysis (Chi-square test) was not performed, and these results are presented descriptively. In terms of morphological traits, all Pafúri goats exhibited a convex head profile, whereas Landim goats showed both convex (57.9%) and concave (42.1%) profiles. Approximately 75% of the goats presented a uniform coat colour pattern. Morphometric comparisons based on inferential analysis of female goats (n = 131) due to the limited number of males (n = 6), showed that Landim goats tended to have higher mean values for horn length (19.21 ± 0.83 cm), withers height (58.67 ± 1.20 cm), and body length (67.31 ± 1.73 cm), whereas Pafúri goats exhibited slightly larger head dimensions and thoracic perimeter. However, none of these differences were statistically significant (p > 0.05). Regarding zoometric indices, Landim goats tended to exhibit higher cephalic and thoracic indices, whereas Pafúri goats showed similar or slightly higher body, particularly among females. In contrast, Pafúri goats exhibited marginally higher proportionality indices, reflecting more elongated body proportions. Similarly, the small variations observed in zoometric indices did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). We hypothesized that, despite being reared under similar environmental conditions, Landim and Pafúri goat ecotypes would exhibit distinct morpho-structural characteristics due to differences in genetic background and adaptive history. These findings indicate that the morpho-structural differences between the two breeds are mainly descriptive rather than statistically supported. These results provide site-specific and preliminary baseline information for future genetic and phenotypic studies, thus may support conservation and sustainable utilization strategies for indigenous goat populations, particularly those reared under similar management and environmental conditions in southern Mozambique.

This Compendium of Technical Briefs on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) provides practical guidance on a wide range of climate-smart agricultural practices designed to improve productivity, strengthen resilience, and promote sustainable land and water management across Southern Africa. Building on content originally developed by CCARDESA with support from GIZ and first published in 2019, the publication presents concise technical briefs covering soil fertility management, water conservation, crop diversification, agroforestry, livestock management, pest control, and climate adaptation strategies suitable for both smallholder and commercial farming systems. The compendium serves as a practical resource for farmers, extension officers, researchers, and policy makers seeking locally adaptable solutions to address climate change impacts on agriculture while enhancing food security and environmental sustainability.

Africa is one of the most food-insecure regions of the world, hosting about 282 million undernourished people, accounting for 38% of the global total of 735 million; and hence the access to adequate and nutritious food remains a big chal-lenge. Degraded land resources, low agronomic productivity, and low nutrient dense foods are the major causes of malnourishment including micronutrient deficiencies in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). More than 50% of people in SSA suffer from Zn deficiency, and 57% of pregnant women suffer from Fe deficiency anemia. Soil and water are fundamental resources for livelihoods and food security in Africa as 60% of people in SSA derive their livelihoods from these resources.

Africa faces escalating climate risks that threaten livelihoods, ecosystems, and hard-won development gains. In response, the African Union (AU), Member States, and partners are advancing Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) as a cornerstone for building resilience and climate justice. Yet, adaptation efforts remain fragmented, unevenly financed, and dominated by external priorities. This study, commissioned by the Global Health
Strategies (GHS) in partnership with the AU Commission’s Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy Directorate, maps, analyzes, and synthesizes scalable and inclusive LLA models across Africa to inform member states’ positioning under the AU Climate Strategy (2022–2032), and Agenda 2063.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) responded to global calls to address environmental challenges such as high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the use of liquid biofuels. This study assessed the potential of liquid biofuel production in the SADC region with data collected in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The results showed that the liquid biofuel industry is struggling. Countries do not have enough resources to support the industry effectively and there is overreliance on international sponsors. In terms of policy and regulatory frameworks most countries are doing well. However, these policies are not implemented effectively. Most countries use sugar-cane to produce bioethanol. Over the years countries, such as Malawi, have attempted to incorporate crops such as cassava (Manihot esculenta) and castor bean (Ricinus communis). Although the industry is not performing well it has contributed massively to livelihood development in all the region

Agricultural productivity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is currently undermined by a structural "inverted skills pyramid" resulting from "academicization"—the systematic phasing out of certificate and diploma programs in favour of university degrees. This review employs a Systematic Narrative Synthesis (SNS) of literature and institutional reports from 2021–2025 to evaluate the consequences of this shift across all 16 SADC member states. The findings reveal that while the region produces an oversupply of theoretically grounded degree holders, it faces a critical shortage of field-ready technicians capable of managing irrigation, mechanization, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. In the absence of formal technical pathways, the "technical cadre" has been replaced by fragmented industry-led academies, donor-funded stop-gap programs, and an aging experiential workforce. Comparative analysis with dual-track models in Germany and Brazil suggests that SADC’s current trajectory limits 4IR adoption and food security. The paper recommends an immediate restoration of autonomous technical colleges and the institutionalization of industry- Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) co-governance to bridge the widening skills gap.