Minister Defends Green Revolution Strategy

Posted to the web 10 October 2008 Maputo Mozambican Agriculture Minister Soares Nhaca on Thursday denied a claim by the former rebel movement Renamo that Mozambique has fewer rural extensionists than Swaziland. Speaking at a debate on food security in the country's parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, Nhaca said the figure he had given the previous day of 590 extensionists only applied to the public sector. Since a further 759 are employed by companies and NGOs, the real total is 1,349. With the recruitment this year of a further 185 public sector extensionists, the total will rise still further to 1,534. "We are intensifying recruitment of new extensionists, and equipping them with motorbikes for greater mobility, to increase the number of families who can benefit", said Nhaca. As for the 50 tractors that had been... [read full story]