The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries (MAAP), Acubar Batista, representing Minister Roberto Mito Albino, received a delegation from Thailand on Wednesday in Maputo. The delegation included representatives from the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), the Thai Embassy in Mozambique, and experts from Kasetsart University. The meeting aimed to reinforce cooperation between Mozambique and Thailand in agriculture, research, and technology transfer.
During the meeting, Acubar Batista welcomed the delegation and emphasised that, although the two countries do not yet have very robust agreements, cooperation has existed for several years. Among the initiatives undertaken, he highlighted technical assistance in rice production in Zambézia Province in 2003, as well as the donation of agricultural equipment related to rice cultivation in 2005.
The Permanent Secretary also noted the recent visit of a MAAP delegation to the Kingdom of Thailand, which resulted in the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in areas such as agricultural mechanisation, training of extension officers, and technology transfer, with particular focus on the testing and improvement of rice seeds.
Rice production and technology transfer
During their presentation, the Thai delegation experts shared experiences and technologies developed in Thailand for rice production, highlighting varieties with high productivity that are resistant to adverse conditions such as flooding, salinity, drought, and pests. According to the experts from Kasetsart University, these varieties can achieve yields of around five tonnes per hectare and may allow up to two production cycles per year, depending on local conditions.
The discussions underscored the importance of technology transfer to producers, involving national institutions such as the Mozambique Agricultural Research Institute (IIAM), the National Directorate of Extension, and the National Irrigation Institute. This coordination aims to ensure that research-developed technologies reach producers effectively, contributing to increased agricultural productivity and reduced production costs.
With this meeting, Mozambique reiterates its interest in deepening cooperation with Thailand in strategic areas aligned with government priorities, including increasing rice production, digitalising the agricultural production system, developing aquaculture, and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.