For decades, Mozambique’s tea sector, particularly in the districts of Gurúè (Zambézia) and Mossurize (Manica), has struggled with deep-rooted challenges. Aging plantations, low yields, weak market access and fragmented stakeholder engagement have stifled growth. In Mossurize, the absence of local processing facilities has further excluded smallholders from meaningful participation in the tea economy.
Recognizing the need for transformation, Solidaridad launched the Pathways to Prosperity (P2P) Tea Project. This seven-year initiative (2023-2029), with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aligns with Solidaridad’s global strategy and is complemented by the RECLAIM Sustainability! programme.
P2P’s design addressed both the structural and systemic barriers facing the tea sector. Solidaridad registered 2,623 smallholder farmers and grouped them into training teams of 30 to strengthen learning and monitoring. In a landmark move, the project brokered a Memorandum of Understanding with Sociedade Desenvolvimento da Zambézia (SDZ), granting smallholders access to 500 hectares of underutilized tea estates. Encouragingly, an additional 400 hectares have been earmarked, pending farmer performance.
To boost yields, the high-performing PC168 tea variety, capable of producing up to 5,000 kg per hectare, was introduced from Malawi. A tea platform was also established to improve coordination and communication among industry stakeholders.
Yet, the full harvest potential of tea takes up to four years. To ensure farmers remained engaged and economically resilient during this waiting period, Solidaridad adopted a bold and practical strategy: income diversification.
A dedicated group of 51 farmers was supported to produce short-cycle vegetables: kale, cabbage, tomatoes and lettuce, which mature in just three months. Seeds were provided, and farmers were trained in crop management and marketing.
The farmers’ results were remarkable. Within a single season:
- Kale: 8,995 kg → 3,212.50 euros
- Cabbage: 31,223 kg → 2,885.91 euros
- Tomatoes: 5,281 kg → 2,263.29 euros
- Lettuce: 3,125 kg → 669.64 euros
In total, €9,031.34 was generated and shared equally, with each of the 51 farmers receiving approximately €177.09. This income not only bridged financial gaps but also sparked transformative personal stories across the community.
One such story is that of Anifo Duarte, a young farmer who, inspired by project entrepreneurship training, saw the potential in his underused land. With technical support, he established a fish hatchery and is now raising over 1,000 fingerlings, laying the foundation for a new aquaculture business in the region.
Another example is Valéria Silvestre, a single mother of five, who used her share of horticulture income to improve her household’s welfare significantly. With her earnings, she enrolled all her children in school, turning agricultural support into a platform for education and dignity.
Meanwhile, Flávia Mbo Mutipo, a small roadside vendor, leveraged project training and diversification profits to expand her business from a street stall into a fully stocked convenience shop, redefining what rural entrepreneurship looks like for women.
While the project faced initial skepticism from SDZ due to its lack of infrastructure like greenhouses, consistent community engagement and quick income gains helped overcome these hurdles.
Looking to the future, the P2P project is considering:
- Introducing greenhouse technology to modernize seedling production for tea and vegetables.
- Establishing a revolving investment fund in collaboration with Kvuno, a social enterprise, to provide accessible capital for farmers.
- Scaling the national tea platform to expand domestic and international market access and improve quality standards.
Through its integrated approach, combining access to land, modern tea varieties, income diversification and inclusive capacity building, the P2P Tea Project is not just cultivating tea. It is cultivating resilience, entrepreneurship and equitable growth in Mozambique’s rural communities.
From idle plantations to vibrant vegetable markets, from young aquapreneurs to empowered women entrepreneurs, this is a story of how tea and trust can grow prosperity from the ground up.