What is the project doing?

Drought is one of the major calamities that is influencing the lives of many rural Mozambican year by year. Recently the droughts have become more persistent, say the farmers. That is why it is important that farmers and rural dwellers are able to cope with drought. This is the main goals of the project. The project is also aiming at developing countrywide drought preparedness and mitigation policies to support those who earn their living in most droughts hit areas of the country.

• How is this being achieved?
  The project will help to organize an early warning system that would provide timely and relevant information to farmers to assist them in coping with drought.
• The project is run in the selected pilot sites where the farmers are trained for new farming approaches; harversting water, water-saving farming techniques, and growing water-resistant crops.
• The farmers are trained to further produce their crops and wild fruit for commercial market.
• Farmers and peasants inside and outside the pilot sites deploy and replicate successful approaches to cope with drought.

Why?
Natural disasters have a significant impact on people and the economy in Mozambique. It is estimated that as much as 25 percent of the population faces a high mortality risk from such events, and the country ranks as the second most geographically exposed country in Africa.

The implementation of this project will contribute to enhancing food security and the capacity to adapt to climate change in agricultural and pastoral systems in Gaza province that is the most drought prone province.

MDGs:
all of them but especially
Goal 1 - Eradicate Absolute Poverty and Hunger
Goal 7 - Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Who are involved?
The implementing partner is the Ministry of Coordination of Environmental Matters (MICOA), also the provincial, district and community authorities.

Results:
The project is still in its early stage but the following results were gained in 2010:

• I each of the four project communities have been trained to construct water-harvesting cisterns. The training included 80 people.
• Four cisterns are constructed, and they will be operational in June 2011, after at least 50 percent of the water capacity is captured from the rain.
• All the project communities were strated to be trained to grow drought-resistant crops, such as sweet potato, cassava and/or sorghum.
• In one of the communities, Nhampuguane, an association has been established to work together on fruit and vegetable preservation products. Association with 38 members were trained to make jam from tomatoes, mangos and massala , a wild fruit, for sale on the market. 
• All the communities are familiar with the project ideas.

Duration:
5 years; 2009 - 2013

Location:
four communities in Guijá District in Gaza Province, replication of good practises to the whole province

Project code: 57849

Donors:
Global Environmental Fund GEF
Government of Mozambique - Ministry of Coordination of Environmental Matters (MICOA)
Samaritan's Purse

Budget and Expenditure 2010:  
Budget: USD 677,000
Expenditure: USD 140,501

Contacts: 
Mr. Samora Vuma
Project Manager - UNDP/MICOA 
Cell: +258 82 4252490
E-mail: svfayvuma@gmail.com

MICOA
Ms. Anselmina Liphola
Tel: +258 21 492 403

Related websites:
MICOA  

Related web articles:

11 February 2010 - New water cisterns are fed with rainwater in drought-prone communities of Guijá

11 August 2010 - Resisting drought with new crops and water harvesting