Mozambique expands farmer-led pigeonpea seed enterprises to boost income, exports
The initiative is reshaping how farmers access quality seed and markets, transforming pigeonpea from a largely subsistence crop into a profitable, market-oriented enterprise
MOZAMBIQUE – The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is spearheading a rapid expansion of farmer-led pigeonpea seed enterprises in Mozambique.
The initiative seeks to create new income opportunities for smallholders and accelerate the country’s integration into regional and international pulse markets.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Mozambique’s economy, with more than 70% of the population dependent on the sector.
Yet only around 10% of the country’s 36 million hectares of arable land is currently cultivated, signaling significant untapped potential as global demand for high-value pulses continues to grow.
Key to this momentum are resilient, decentralized seed systems that position farmers at the center of production and supply.
Backed by FAO through the Benefit-Sharing Fund of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, ICRISAT is leading implementation on the ground, scaling farmer-led seed enterprises that directly link local seed production to domestic and export markets.
At the community level, smallholders are increasingly assuming roles as seed producers, suppliers, and active market participants.
Mozambique has already established itself as a major pigeonpea exporter, with shipments exceeding 170,000 tons in peak years.
In 2025, production remained stable in key growing areas despite erratic rainfall and El Niño-related weather stresses, with districts such as Cuamba in Niassa Province contributing more than 10,000 tons.
Beyond its commercial value, pigeonpea supports sustainable farming systems. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it enhances soil fertility, enables crop diversification, and contributes to household nutrition, making it a cornerstone crop for smallholder sustainable intensification.
ICRISAT’s research hubs in Mutwari and Angonia are central to the initiative. The institute produces early-generation seed of improved pigeonpea and groundnut varieties, which are then multiplied and distributed by farmer cooperatives and local seed enterprises.
This model ensures timely access to quality seed while creating new rural businesses, driving both economic and agricultural development in Mozambique.
By combining market access, quality seed production, and farmer empowerment, the programme is redefining the potential of pigeonpea, transforming it into a commercially viable crop while supporting the broader goals of sustainable agriculture and rural income growth.
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