Overview
Due to its long coastline, the effects of salinity are particularly severe in Mozambique, and excessive land clearing is exacerbating the degradation of the land. While initial efforts on Saline Agriculture have focused on classical approaches such as crop salt tolerance and improved soil/water management, there is a pressing need for more comprehensive solutions, harnessing the whole spectrum of agroecological management solutions adapted to salt-affected agricultural systems. At the same time, despite the severity of the salinity problem, Mozambique still lacks a consistent institutional approach to address the issue (including policy, education and research).
The MoSARP project intended to address these knowledge and action gaps by focussing on two key aspects: (1) Identification of Agroforestry solutions adapted to salt-affected coastal lowland environments, and (2) Development of Saline Agriculture training curricula suited for the Mozambican context. MoSARP builds on previous Saline Agriculture initiatives in the country, bundling the expertise of diverse actors from the Mozambican and European (Dutch) research and development sector. The consortium, consisting of ASSAMBA, ABIODES, University Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique Institute of Agricultural Research, Weltweit e.V., The Salt Doctors, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, is seeking opportunities for future long-term collaboration. At the same time, the involvement of external experts and institutions such as CIFOR-ICRAF, allow for best-possible knowledge transfer and supra-regional scaling and collaboration.
Key project activities included:
- a set of topical workshops assessing the state of the art for Agroforestry solutions adapted to salt-affected coastal lowland environments, combined with the establishment of a respective pilot field trial
- mapping of international and local Saline Agriculture initiatives and the integration of these topics into the educational landscape of Mozambique, followed by the elaboration of a topical training concept
This website is dedicated to showcasing specialised learning materials, ensuring accessibility for a broad audience. Additionally, it highlights the main evaluation of group discussions with the aim to develop a comprehensive training concept, providing valuable resources for learners and professionals interested in sustainable agricultural practices.
Events
- 18 September 2024: Introductory Webinar
- 2 December 2024: SW&FS Workshop Amsterdam
- 5 February-7 February 2025: MoSRAP Project Workshop Maputo
Publications
Botão, P., Herrmann, J., Chamba, E., Maria, R., Manuel Luis, A., Famba, S., Negacz, K. & Vos, A. (2025). Mozambican Saline Agriculture Research and Practice (MoSARP). Final Report.
Additional resources and training materials
Strengthening knowledge and action networks on Saline Agriculture in Eastern and Southern Africa: https://welt-weit.org/en/project/esa-saline-agriculture-network/
ANW platform for project presentations: https://community.actionnetwork.world/spaces/16563878/content
Saline AgriMap and Knowledge portal: https://www.salineagrimap.com/knowledge-portal/
Contact
For more information about the training and materials, please contact Dr Kate Negacz.