Mozambique farmers lose produce to spoilage
Transport shortages and high freight costs prevent perishable goods from reaching markets in Quelimane.
In Quelimane, Mozambique, tomatoes are rotting in fields and markets because farmers and traders cannot find buyers before the produce spoils. This widespread issue affects perishable agricultural products across the country, leading to significant waste at a time when many families struggle with food affordability.
Producers and traders in Quelimane cite transport shortages, high freight costs, and inadequate storage as key problems. One trader reported paying MZN700 for tomatoes in Gorongosa and MZN250 for transport to Quelimane, only to find the produce spoiled after three days without sales, making it difficult to recover the initial investment.
This situation highlights broader weaknesses in Mozambique's agricultural supply chains, including poor roads and expensive transport. Traders' reluctance to accept prices below their purchase cost, even when facing total loss, further exacerbates the problem of perishable goods deteriorating before they can be sold.
Why it mattersMozambican farmers and traders are losing their perishable produce and potential income due to an inability to get goods to market and sell them before they spoil.