Visit to a sugar project in Mozambique

The scenery in the Chemba district in North Mozambique, not far from the border with Malawi and on the banks of the idyllic Zambezi river, is wonderfully unspoiled. The EcoFarm organic sugar growing project, which operates a circular economy on the basis of fair terms of employment, offers long-term prospects for a region which is lacking in infrastructure. Our sugar expert Nicolo Rieben was there for the start of the harvest and reports enthusiastically about a rather unusual project.

Nicolo, what makes the sugar project in Mozambique so special?
The social and environmental implications of this project are remarkable. As the biggest local employer, with over 600 employees, the EcoFarm sugar mill plays a significant role in improving living conditions in the region. Its two affiliated cooperatives are made up of around 500 smallholders; over 3,800 more people benefit indirectly from being members of the partnership. Thanks to its innovative circular economy and efficient use of the by-products of agriculture and the sugar mill, the project is also exemplary in terms of environmental technology.

Can you tell us exactly how life for the local people is improving?
Chemba is one of the poorest regions of one of the poorest countries in the world. Smallholders account for 99% of the agricultural sector and guaranteeing food security is one of the biggest challenges in this remote region. Every job is hugely valuable. One local study showed that the daily wages of farming families who join the cooperative increase from USD 0.63 to USD 6.50. That’s a significant improvement – but according to EcoFarm it could be increased even more in the long term. The first of the two cooperatives is already Fairtrade-certified, and the second is going through the certification process. 

All of the smallholders in the cooperatives are subsistence farmers. Through the cooperatives, they can get additional land to grow corn or beans for their own needs or to sell at the local market. EcoFarm supports them by providing training in how to farm organically, efficiently and sustainably, and helps them with the harvest. It’s all about long-term knowledge transfer and handing over responsibility.

 

Protecting the environment is also a high priority for EcoFarm.
Exactly. The man behind EcoFarm is a South African organic visionary. Unlike most big sugar mills, EcoFarm operates a completely organic production cycle, with grass-fed cows which provide valuable compost, along with crops that are deliberately grown for the purpose. The compost is available for the cooperatives to use, enriching the soil while requiring minimal tillage and so increasing the yield from the fields. Because the cattle dung makes the soil fertile, more plants grow and so more CO2 is absorbed from the atmosphere.

Chemba and the north-western part of the country are known for their fertile soils and good rainfall. To provide the additional irrigation that is still required, the project was deliberately located right beside the Zambezi river. It has been shown that, if water is used in a controlled manner, the region does not suffer from a shortage of water. A further plus point for the environment is that the sugar containers are transported by rail to the port of Beira for export, resulting in efficient, low-CO2 logistics.

 

What role does PRONATEC play in the project?
We joined the project two years ago, and received our first small deliveries in 2021. Now, from this harvest, we will purchase our first big consignment. When it is exported in June, the Fairtrade premiums will be paid directly into the cooperatives’ bank account and then the smallholders will decide democratically how that money should be used. In this way, they take responsibility themselves for projects in their region, such as building schools or medical treatment centres. PRONATEC is an important buyer in the EU market and, as always, has entered into a long-term, supportive partnership.

What do you remember particularly about your visit?
Despite the infrastructure problems in Mozambique, EcoFarm offers a stable and secure supply chain and organic cane sugar of the highest quality. I was impressed by the fact that this still relatively new project is already achieving high yields of around 100 tons of sugar cane per hectare. The reasons for this are the topographical advantages, the loamy soils with good water retention and an ideal amount of sunshine.

Even though the people live simply, in great poverty, with no television or electricity, they seem to manage to lead self-sufficient, if frugal, lives. I was impressed by that, even though I don’t want to romanticise it. For example, the nearest hospital is over 30 km away…

What kind of products from this project can our customers purchase?Despite the difficult circumstances, the EcoFarm sugar mill is ultra-modern. We are importing very pure, high-quality Syramena® Special Light that is available from us as of now. By buying this Fairtrade sugar, our customers have the opportunity to help improve the living conditions of people in Mozambique.

Thank you very much, Nicolo, for giving us such an interesting insight into the project!