Maputo, Mozambique, 28 July – The European Union (EU) has approved a financial package of US$10.2 million to support food production in Mozambique, in particular seed processing.

A portion of the funding is meant for subsidies for small-scale producers to purchase fertilizers.

The program will be put into practice over the next two years by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The European Commission representative in Mozambique, Glauco Calzuol, said that the EU would provide Mozambique with a further six million Euros via the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The funding is part of a billion Euro package from the EU for 25 developing countries.

FAO representative, Maria José Zimmerman, said that with this aid Mozambique could become self-sufficient in seeds and export to southern African countries.

Soares Nhaca, Mozambique’s Minister for Agriculture said that this aid would also boost research laboratories in Nampula, Chimoio and Gaza. (macauhub)