Maputo, July 8, 2026 (Lusa) - The Dutch government will provide €12.5 million in funding for a seed development program in Mozambique, a five-year initiative aimed at strengthening the national seed system, increasing agricultural productivity, and improving food security.
According to a statement from Mozambique’s Ministry of Planning and Development, the funding will be formalized on Thursday in Maputo with the signing of the Financing Agreement for the Mozambique Seed Partnership (MSP) Program, an initiative that will run from 2026 to 2031.
It adds that the program aims to “strengthen the national seed system and expand farmers’ access to high-quality, climate-resilient seeds.”
The agreement will be signed by the director general of the Zambezi Valley Development Agency (ADVZ), Celso Cunha, and by the deputy head of mission and head of cooperation at the Dutch embassy in Maputo, Wietze Sijtsma.
According to the press release, the program aims to promote “the development of a more competitive, sustainable, and inclusive seed sector” by strengthening collaboration between public institutions, research organizations, and the private sector, including seed companies and other stakeholders in the value chain.
The ministry adds that the initiative is part of the bilateral cooperation between Mozambique and the Netherlands and seeks to “strengthen the national seed system by improving farmers’ access to and use of improved and climate-resilient seed varieties.”
Through “a market-oriented approach,” the program is expected to contribute to “increased agricultural productivity, enhanced food and nutritional security, and strengthened resilience of production systems in the face of climate change.”
Implementation will take place nationwide, but with a particular focus on the Beira and Nacala development corridors. In these central and northern regions, the interventions are expected to contribute to “strengthening seed markets and expanding farmers’ access to certified, high-quality seeds.”
The program will be implemented by ADVZ, in partnership with the Mozambican Institute for Agricultural Research (IIAM) and Wageningen Social & Economic Research (WSER) at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Implementation will also involve collaboration with the National Directorate of Agricultural Health and Biosafety, producer organizations, seed companies, financial institutions, and other national and international partners.
The private sector will play a central role in implementing the initiative, contributing to “strengthening the production, certification, marketing, and distribution of quality seeds, as well as promoting innovation, investment, and the sustainable development of the seed value chain.”
The press release adds that this cooperation between the public and private sectors will make it possible to “consolidate a more dynamic, competitive, and inclusive seed market.”
According to the Ministry of Planning and Development, by enhancing “the availability, access, and use of quality seeds,” the program will contribute to “more productive, resilient, and market-oriented agriculture,” supporting the government’s efforts toward the sustainable transformation of the agricultural sector, the improvement of farming families’ livelihoods, and the country’s economic development.
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