ICRISAT and FAO Back Farmer-Led Seed Enterprises as Mozambique Expands Pigeonpea Markets
Media release
ICRISAT and FAO are backing a rapid expansion of farmer-led pigeonpea seed enterprises in Mozambique, unlocking new income streams and accelerating the country’s entry into regional and international markets amid rising demand for high-value pulses.
Led by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the initiative is reshaping how smallholder farmers access quality seed and markets, turning pigeonpea from a subsistence crop into a profitable, market-oriented enterprise.
More than 70% of Mozambicans depend on agriculture, yet just 10% of the country’s 36 million hectares of arable land is cultivated, an untapped potential now drawing renewed attention as export markets for pulses continue to expand.
That market momentum is being driven by investments in resilient, decentralized seed systems that put farmers in control of production and supply.
With support from FAO through the Benefit-Sharing Fund of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, ICRISAT is leading on-the-ground implementation, scaling farmer-led seed enterprises that link local production directly to expanding domestic and export markets.
At the community level, this shift is creating new roles for farmers, as seed producers, suppliers, and market participants.
In peak years, exports have exceeded 170,000 tons.
In 2025, production remained stable in key growing areas despite erratic rainfall and El Niño-related weather stress, with districts such as Cuamba in Niassa Province contributing more than 10,000 tons.
Beyond its commercial value, pigeonpea offers critical agronomic and nutritional benefits.
As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it improves soil fertility, supports crop diversification, and contributes to household nutrition, making it a cornerstone crop for sustainable intensification.
At research hubs in Mutwari and Angonia, ICRISAT produces early generation seed of improved pigeonpea and groundnut varieties.
These seeds are then multiplied and distributed by farmer cooperatives and local seed enterprises, ensuring timely access to quality seed while creating new income-generating businesses within rural communities.
Dr. James Mwololo, a legume breeder at ICRISAT, said these sites serve as both seed production hubs and learning platforms.
“We are building local capacity so seed supply systems endure beyond project cycles.
Farmers are becoming seed entrepreneurs and reliable suppliers within their own communities, supported by community seed banks, revolving seed funds, and participatory varietal selection that give them access to improved, locally adapted varieties,” said Dr. Mwololo.
The impact is most visible at the community level.
In Malema District, the Wimanana Farmers Group has recorded sharp increases in productivity and income. Chairperson Mr. Brito Vatonko said access to quality seed and training has fundamentally changed livelihoods.
“Before, we planted recycled seed with low yields. Now, with improved seed and training, our harvest has doubled. Some of us are selling seed and pigeonpea to buyers in India.
Over the past decade, pigeonpea has emerged as one of Mozambique’s most important cash and export crops, with India as the primary market.
Alongside seed enterprise development, the initiative is training hundreds of women and young people in sustainable agricultural practices, including soil fertility management, erosion control, intercropping, and post-harvest handling.
These practices are helping restore degraded land, stabilize yields, and strengthen household nutrition.
Commending the FAO–ICRISAT partnership, ICRISAT Director General Dr. Himanshu Pathak said Mozambique is already seeing tangible livelihood gains for farming communities driven by locally led solutions.
“By investing in farmer-led seed systems and strengthening the participation of women and young people across the value chain, Mozambique is demonstrating how inclusive, locally driven approaches help farmers grow more, earn more, and build stronger livelihoods over time,” said Dr. Pathak.
What began with a small number of farmer groups in Niassa and Nampula has grown into a dynamic network of seed producers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
With demand for pigeonpea continuing to rise, ICRISAT and FAO are now working with national partners to scale these models nationwide, so more farmers can participate and connect directly to expanding domestic and export markets.
As Mr. Vatonko concludes, “Our journey has just begun, and this time, the farmers are leading the way.”
This work aligns with SDGs 2,13 & 17.
Martin Muluka