Agricultural production in Zambézia province, central Mozambique, in the last nine years has posted annual average growth of 15.5 percent rising from 1.8 million tons in 2005 to 5.5 million tons in 2013, the provincial governor said.

Joaquim Veríssimo said that this level of growth was due to a number of factors including construction of the Thewe II irrigation are, in Mopeia district, which is able to irrigate 227 hectares of land and the acquisition of agricultural equipment, as well as construction of a variety of facilities.

In the nine-year period, the governor said, five silos were built with a capacity of 1,000 tons each in the Alto Molocué district, three silos were installed in Gurué district with a 1,200 ton storage capacity and another two with capacity to store 1,800 tons of produce.

“The rice processing factories started operating in the districts of Nicoadala and Namacurra, with capacities of 100 and 150 tons per day, respectively,” noted the governor cited by Mozambican news agency AIM.

Zambézia province last year sold 2.7 million tons of a variety of products and organised 8,500 agricultural fairs. (macauhub/MZ)