Africa-Press – Mozambique. Manica province expects to export more than 300 tons of litchi to various European Union countries by Decemeber, countries , through multinational Westefália, with agricultural undertakings in the districts of Macate and Báruè.
If this target is achieved, the province of Manica, the country’s largest litchi producer, will have achieved a 100% increase in exports compared to last year.
The figures were made public on Monday in Báruè district at the launch of the first litchi marketing campaign, promoted with the involvement of both domestic and overseas companies.
The governor of Manica province, Francisca Tomás, who launched the marketing campaign, indicated creating conditions for the agro-processing of litchi, quantities of which have been growing with each campaign, as a priority for her executive.
According to Governor Tomás, the marketing campaign is intended to stimulate an increase in the production of litchi and its derivatives, and encourage family and private sectors producers to increase their income, investing in sustainable production that ensures harmony between human action and nature, without compromising the quality of life of future generations.
Francisca Tomás further called the campaign an event of capital importance, representing the materialisation of the strategic objectives enshrined in the Provincial Executive Council’s Five-Year Program 2020-2024, which aims to ensure the transformation and modernisation of production and stimulate agricultural marketing, so as to boost the flow of products from the production to the consumption zones.
The Governor Tomás noted that marketing plays an important role in the economy of the province and the country, as agriculture is one of the main sources of income generation for the population in rural areas.
Furthermore, she said, litchi growing drives the connection of markets, boosting the road, transport, finance, energy and industry sectors, among others.
“In this context, taking into account the potential that the province has in litchi production, one of the challenges we have is agro-processing, which will add value and raise the quality standards required by the market,” the governor of Manica said.
Francisca Tomás pointed out that processing litchi would ensure the commercialisation of the fruit through derivatives such as juices, soft drinks and wines.
She also observed that litchi could be used to produce medicine, citing studies showing that the fruit has the potential to treat fevers, relieve coughs, liver and stomach problems and sore throats, among other mild ailments.
“With a view to materialising agro-processing, the Provincial Executive Council will continue to focus its efforts on creating a favourable environment for investment in the litchi value chain, through the expansion and modernisation of infrastructure to support the agro-processing sector, such as roads and electricity, as well as the reduction of bureaucratic processes inherent to the licensing and issuance of DUATs, among other incentives,” Francisca Tomás remarked.
The 2021-2022 Litchi Marketing Campaign was launched under the motto: “Litchi from Manica: Traditional, unique and a promoter of agribusiness”.
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