Informing the process of agricultural market reform in Mozambique: a progress report

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present the progress, to date, in the design of a pilot agricultural market information system (AMIS) in Mozambique. The authors recently conducted a three week rapid appraisal in the country. The team interviewed GOM and donor officials in Maputo, visited two provincial capitals, four district capitals and selected rural areas surrounding these district capitals. In each location, the team interviewed local officials, lojistas, wholesalers, and farmers. The information obtained shed a great deal of light on the structure of the Mozambican food system, on local perceptions of pricing and market regulation policies and on the problems facing traders and farmers in responding positively to the improved policy and security environment in the country. This paper reports selected findings of this field work and discusses their implications for the AMIS design.