The World Bank-funded Sustainable Irrigation Development Project (PROIRRI), which will run for six years, seeks to increase small-scale agricultural food production and raise farm productivity in central Mozambique.

The Mozambique Ministry of Agriculture has awarded a Royal HaskoningDHV-led consortium the US$5.4 million (R56.4 million) Irrigation Services Provider contract which entails the design and implementation of a 3 000 hectare rice irrigation project.

Royal HaskoningDHV will design and implement new and rehabilitated irrigation schemes and improve existing irrigation infrastructure for the benefit of six thousand small-scale farmers. The project is expected to run until 2017 and will be concentrated in the provinces of Sofala and Zambezia. The project will be implemented at district level and considers all aspects related to rice production, harvesting and post-harvesting processing including sale.

PROIRRI project manager at the Mozambique Ministry of Agriculture Mozambique Eugénio Nhone said the project aims to promote and ensure self-employment, higher production, increased productivity and sustainability of the rice crop, while guaranteeing food security and a regular market for rice. Other benefits include reducing carbon footprint, energy efficiency, job creation and skills transfer.

By the end of the project, rice yield per hectare will increase from the current one ton a year to four tons a year. Considering the 3 000 hectares, the project will result in12 000 tons of rice production per year.