Mozambique’s agricultural sector represents 24 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 20 percent of its exports, said the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Daniel Clemente, according to the daily newspaper Jornal Notícias.

Mr Clemente however said the sector continues to be dominated by small family farms, with little connection to the market and a lack of technology to streamline production.

The official said that only about 3 percent of some 3.9 million existing farms in Mozambique use fertilisers and 9 percent use improved maize seeds; maize being the staple food crop in the country.

“Agriculture in Mozambique is an important economic activity which provides a livelihood and food security to more than 80 percent of households,” said Mr Clemente, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting on rural agricultural statistics.

The regional meeting on the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Global Strategy Action for Improving Agricultural and Rural Statistics in Africa brings together in Maputo representatives of 29 countries.