Limiting Factors of Potato Production in Mozambique, Africa

Presenter Information

Jacob LakeFollow

Class

Article

Graduation Year

2017

College

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department

Applied Economics Department

Faculty Mentor

Dr. DeeVon Bailey

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Abstract

Mozambique is located on the south-eastern coast of the African continent. Originally colonized by the Portuguese, the country won its independence in 1976 and shortly thereafter was plunged into a 16-year civil war between rival political parties. After emerging from the civil war in 1992, a large portion of the newly-founded nation’s infrastructure was in ruins, particularly the agricultural sector. Since then, Mozambique has made important strides in rebuilding what was once a breadbasket for this part of Africa. However, even with recent progress, the country remains a net importer of many agricultural goods, primarily in food products that make up a large portion of the native diet. One of these products is potatoes - a food representing one of three major carbohydrate sources and caloric contributors to the Mozambican diet (rice and maize are the other major sources). Although potatoes comprise a large part of the Mozambican diet and demand is typically strong, domestically-produced potato availability is severely affected by the seasonality of production, ineffective storage techniques, lack of appropriate infrastructure (cold chain logistics), competition from neighboring countries (South Africa), consumer taste and preferences, and price. While these factors are not directly related to agronomic aspect of potato production, they are no less important in their effect on the market environment for the domestic potato industry in Mozambique.

Location

Room 154

Start Date

4-13-2017 1:30 PM

End Date

4-13-2017 2:45 PM

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Apr 13th, 1:30 PM Apr 13th, 2:45 PM

Limiting Factors of Potato Production in Mozambique, Africa

Room 154

Mozambique is located on the south-eastern coast of the African continent. Originally colonized by the Portuguese, the country won its independence in 1976 and shortly thereafter was plunged into a 16-year civil war between rival political parties. After emerging from the civil war in 1992, a large portion of the newly-founded nation’s infrastructure was in ruins, particularly the agricultural sector. Since then, Mozambique has made important strides in rebuilding what was once a breadbasket for this part of Africa. However, even with recent progress, the country remains a net importer of many agricultural goods, primarily in food products that make up a large portion of the native diet. One of these products is potatoes - a food representing one of three major carbohydrate sources and caloric contributors to the Mozambican diet (rice and maize are the other major sources). Although potatoes comprise a large part of the Mozambican diet and demand is typically strong, domestically-produced potato availability is severely affected by the seasonality of production, ineffective storage techniques, lack of appropriate infrastructure (cold chain logistics), competition from neighboring countries (South Africa), consumer taste and preferences, and price. While these factors are not directly related to agronomic aspect of potato production, they are no less important in their effect on the market environment for the domestic potato industry in Mozambique.