Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

A group of associated farmers dedicated to the production of horticulture in the community of Vinho recently received a collection of material intended for the irrigation of their agricultural fields.  There are 13 women of the Mbale Ndi Phaza Association that received support of Gorongosa National Park (GNP) in the scope of the Restoration Project and of the aid provided for human development in the zones inside that area of conservation. 

The complete watering equipment consisted of a Honda motor pump, with capacity to pump up to 300 liters of water per minute, and an irrigation system composed of a 500 liter tank, 50 meters of main pipe, a distribution valve, a tap and 30 meters of hose, costing approximately 25 thousand meticais. 

GNP disbursed the monetary value referred to above, as a loan, and the second party should settle the debt in a standard defined by the entity that granted the credit.  In other words, the loan granted for the purchase of the motor pump and of the water system will be paid gradually without rate of interest, by means of the yield of the commercialization of the harvests, in favor of the rotating fund of the Mbale Ndi Phaza Association for the benefit of itself and of his members. 

The memorandum of understanding of the delivery of the motor pump and respective watering accessories was signed days ago between GNP, represented by the director of the Department of Human Development, Mateus Mutemba, and the president of the Mbale Ndi Phaza Association, Herculano Paúnde, in a public session witnessed by some members of the Nhamatanda District Government. 

In the scope of this pact, the GNP even helps that technical association by providing aid with the objective of increasing the output and the agricultural productivity through the use of techniques of working with the land that permits a natural balance. 

In an equal way, GNP holds itself responsible for facilitating access to the market for the placement of agricultural produce of the association partner, support the construction of a small warehouse, capacitate the users of the pump on the issue of preventive maintenance, and lend technical aid in the battle against disease and pests based in biologically sustainable techniques. 

The group of associated farmers of Vinho dedicates itself to the cultivation of a diversity of vegetables and herbs including spring greens, tomato, lettuce, cabbage, beans, pumpkin, carrot and pepper.  Equally, they plan to cultivate a range of plants, including aromatic herbs and fruits in the future. 

A small part of the output is for auto consumption, while the remainder is traded with the objective of acquiring other essential property that satisfies the needs of the family home.  The restaurant of the Chitengo tourist camp is the main market that absorbs the excess of the Mbale Ndi Phaza Association, founded in 2002, with headquarters in the town of the Vinho, in the district of Nhamatanda, in Sofala. 

Part of the range of agricultural goods produced by the Vinho women’s association

The Nhamatanda government was satisfied with the gesture of GNP and delivered a vigorous appeal to the beneficiaries

During the ceremony of the delivery of the watering equipment to the thirteen women of the Mbale Ndi Phaza Association, the permanent secretary of the Administration in the District of Nhamatanda, Ana Meque, representing the Nhamatanda District Government, honored the initiative of GNP with enthusiasm and presented the following words:

"The gesture of GNP represents a great attribute for the mothers of this community and an excellent contribution in the fight against poverty, as well as a resolution for the problem of food security in the zone and in the country in general, up against the eminent world crisis of lack of food", emphasized. 

That administrator also said that the motor pump the group of the women received will enable modifications in the system of local production which will result in a larger yield to guarantee the food security in the community and in the country.  "I implore you to take this project seriously, because you know very well that globally, food is more and more precious and as a corollary of this, less people have access to food products due to the increase in prices”, concluded Meque.

The permanent secretary of Nhamatanda, Ana Meque (in the center)