As part of ASNAPP’s continuous assessments in the fresh produce market, Tete in Mozambique was identified as one of three ‘hot spots’. The other two were the Copperbelt (Zambia) and Windhoek (Namibia).

Tete

Tete Province in the north-west of Mozambique, borders Zambia and Malawi, and is the site of the largest unexploited coal reserve in the world. Mining giants Rio Tinto and Vale have already made significant investment in the area, and this has already lead to the development of a thriving support industry in the province capital of Tete.

The promise of major investments in infrastructure to facilitate mining activities, along with mining operations, is expected to turn Tete into one of the fastest growing ‘cities’ on earth as people flock the town for work and business opportunities.

This growing non-agarian work force and population will have to be fed somehow.

Spatial, socio-economic and political factors have shaped the value chains in these areas, each presenting a range of opportunities and challenges. This studied aimed to identify the major opportunities and challenges in these areas, thus providing some insight into how agri-economic potential in these ‘hot spots’ can be unlocked and harnessed to improve livelihoods of the rural poor.

Challenges facing Tete

Horticulture	Transport
	Cheap power (grid electricity)
	Access to affordable low tech irrigation
	Cheap finance for farm development
	No formal input sector
	Lack of technical assistance and production information
	Lack of supporting industries
	Improved varieties
Retail sector	Long travel distances of fresh produce
	Limited market size for high value fresh produce
Hospitality sector	Availability of high quality produce
	Variety of fresh produce
Informal sector	Infrastructure (storage, refrigeration)
	Formalisation (ruling prices per kg, regulation)
	Producer and market communication
	Post harvest handling of fresh produce
	Sanitation
	Price and volume volatility of fresh produce
Mining canteen service providers	Quality
	Local availability/ continuity of fresh produce

For further information on the assessment, please contact ASNAPP South Africa on +27 (0)21 808 2919

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