The Mozambique government is rolling out a bold plan to support farmers

“Providing access to irrigation for smallholders is necessary to improve agricultural productivity, increase food security, reduce poverty and increase resilience to climate variability, says Leah Ndungu, regional manager at the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The strategy has helped women, who comprise the bulk of irrigation farmers, to save labor and enjoy quality time for off-farm activities, according to Andre Machava, an agricultural engineer and environmental specialist with the National Irrigation Institute. “The rainfall is becoming erratic and, at times, very intense within a short period, meaning that the rest of the season there is drought or dry spells,” Machava explains. “Irrigation is helping compensate for the uneven rainfall, and those using irrigation are achieving high yields because they manage their water use.”