New Agricultural and Livestock Census Reveals Smallholder Dominance, Vast Unused Arable Land And Growing Pressure for Commercial Agricultural Transformation.

MOZAMBIQUE – Mozambique has more than 6.5 million hectares currently under cultivation, representing just 17.8% of the country’s estimated 36 million hectares of arable land, according to newly released results from the Third Agricultural and Livestock Census (CAP 2023/2024).

The findings highlight both the enormous agricultural potential of the country and the structural challenges facing one of Southern Africa’s most agriculture-dependent economies.

The results were officially presented in Maputo by Mozambique’s Minister of Planning and Development, Salim Valá, during the opening of a national seminar focused on the census outcomes and the future of agricultural transformation in the country.

“The total cultivated area exceeds 6.5 million hectares, corresponding to approximately 17.8% of the 36 million hectares of arable land available in the country,” Valá said.

Family Farming Continues To Dominate Mozambique’s Agricultural Economy

The census revealed that Mozambique currently has approximately 5.2 million agricultural production units, with the overwhelming majority classified as small and medium-scale farms.

According to the government, 99.9% of agricultural holdings fall within the smallholder and medium-scale category, reinforcing the dominant role of family farming in rural livelihoods, food production and employment generation.

More than 84% of all farming units are smaller than two hectares, underlining the fragmented nature of agricultural production across the country.

Analysts say the small average farm size continues to limit productivity, mechanisation, irrigation expansion, commercialisation and integration into higher-value agricultural supply chains.

The data also showed that women play a central role in Mozambique’s farming sector, with approximately 38% of agricultural holdings headed by women.

Officials say the figures demonstrate the critical importance of women farmers to national food security, rural incomes and household agricultural production.

“These figures simultaneously reveal the challenges and the enormous transformative potential of Mozambique’s agricultural sector,” Valá said.

Untapped Arable Land Presents Major Growth Opportunity

One of the most significant findings from the census is the large amount of uncultivated agricultural land still available across Mozambique.

With only 17.8% of arable land currently under cultivation, policymakers view the sector as one of the country’s biggest long-term economic growth opportunities.

Agriculture remains central to Mozambique’s economy, employing a large share of the population while contributing significantly to food production, rural livelihoods and export earnings through crops such as cashew nuts, sugar, cotton, tobacco, sesame, maize and horticultural products.

“This means that the future of national economic transformation will continue to be deeply linked to our ability to transform subsistence agriculture into commercial, integrated, resilient and agro-industrialised farming,” Valá said.

The government has increasingly prioritised agricultural commercialisation, irrigation development, agro-processing, rural infrastructure and value chain integration as part of broader economic diversification efforts.

However, major challenges remain, including limited access to financing, weak transport infrastructure, low mechanisation levels, climate vulnerability, inadequate extension services and limited rural market access.

Livestock Sector Remains Important For Rural Food Security

The census also provided updated livestock population data, highlighting the continued importance of animal production to household food security and rural economies.

According to CAP 2023/2024, Mozambique’s livestock population currently includes approximately:

• 2.4 million cattle
• 4.2 million goats
• 16 million local chickens

Livestock production plays an important role in household nutrition, income diversification and resilience among smallholder farmers, particularly in drought-prone regions.

Goats and poultry remain especially important for rural households because of their relatively lower production costs and adaptability to small-scale farming systems.

Digital Technology Improves Agricultural Data Collection

Officials said the latest census represented one of the largest statistical operations ever conducted by Mozambique’s National Institute of Statistics (INE).

The exercise was implemented in line with guidelines from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and aimed to produce detailed information on the structure of national agricultural and livestock production systems.

The census was conducted between December 2024 and June 2025 and covered almost the entire country, excluding six districts in Cabo Delgado province due to ongoing security challenges linked to insurgent activity in northern Mozambique.

For the first time, authorities deployed digital tablets using Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) systems alongside GPS technology to measure cultivated fields and georeference farms.

Officials said the technology helped reduce operational costs, improve data accuracy and minimise reporting errors.

The use of digital agricultural data systems is becoming increasingly important across Africa as governments seek to improve planning, monitor food production, support climate adaptation strategies and attract investment into agricultural value chains.

Census Expected To Guide Agricultural Policy and Investment

Mozambique’s government says the census results will play a key role in shaping future agricultural policy, investment strategies and rural development programmes.

The data is expected to support:

• Agricultural policy formulation
• Food security planning
• Climate resilience programmes
• Irrigation expansion strategies
• Agro-industrial development
• Rural financing initiatives
• Agricultural research and extension services
• Private sector investment decisions

Analysts say the findings also reinforce the urgency of improving productivity among smallholder farmers while expanding commercial agriculture and value-added processing capacity.

As African countries accelerate efforts to strengthen food systems, reduce import dependency and expand agro-industrialisation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Mozambique’s vast uncultivated land resources could position the country as an important future agricultural production hub in Southern Africa.

However, experts warn that unlocking that potential will require significant investment in infrastructure, irrigation, logistics, mechanisation, storage, financing and rural market integration over the coming decade.