Dairy Cooperative Development

Despite strong economic growth, Mozambique continues to struggle with persistent poverty. A predominantly rural country, Mozambique depends heavily upon agriculture, which supports more than 80 percent of the population. As such, the country is particularly vulnerable to agricultural shocks, such as drought or floods. Mozambique’s 16-year civil war has also taken a toll, decimating the country’s livestock sector. Since 2008, Land O’Lakes (LOL) has helped rebuilding Mozambique’s dairy industry to meet market demand while addressing the unique needs of women farmers. DGRV established a partnership with LOL to support the constitution and operationalization of dairy cooperatives, mainly through participatory appraisals and strategic and business planning exercises. The overall goal of the project is to improve the livelihoods and income of 350 dairy cooperative members in Sofala. Its specific purpose is to support the establishment of sustainable dairy Cooperatives and their Union through capacity building measures and market linkages.

The project is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).