Mozambique, UAE agree to expand farm and environment cooperation

MOZAMBIQUE/UAE – Mozambique and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, food security, and environmental protection during talks held in Dubai this week.

Mozambican Agriculture Minister Roberto Albino spoke on Thursday on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit, where he met UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Amna Al Dahak.

Albino said both sides want to reshape cooperation as part of stronger strategic ties between the two countries.

Joint technical team and focus on farmers

Albino said the two governments agreed to set up a joint technical team to put into action an existing memorandum of understanding on the environment and biodiversity. He stressed that small scale farmers must sit at the center of the plan.

“Small scale producers should be integrated to increase their income and contribute to the overall growth of the country,” Albino said. “We also reject the idea that industrial agriculture threatens the environment.”

He explained that low yields force Mozambique to expand farmland, which leads to forest loss. According to Albino, better methods can raise output on less land and reduce pressure on natural resources.

Mapai dam as a key example

Albino pointed to the Mapai dam project in Gaza province as a clear case of this approach. He said the project will support intensive production in a limited area while offering wider benefits.

“With 200,000 hectares of irrigable land, we can reach the yield we now get from about one million hectares with low productivity,” he said. “The dam will also help with flood control, energy generation, and protection of the Limpopo basin.”

On technology, Albino said Mozambique can modernize farming while caring for nature. “We can use conservation practices, manage inputs carefully, and apply technologies that avoid fossil fuels,” he said. He added that Mozambique must keep pace with digital tools and artificial intelligence as the global economy shifts.

Wider Gulf cooperation context

Also in Dubai, Prime Minister Benvinda Levi said the UAE showed interest in supporting dam construction to reduce flood risks and lift farm output. “There was a clear expression of interest in supporting Mozambique, especially through dams to retain water,” she said, while noting that timelines remain open.

The talks come as the UAE steps up ties with other partners. In January, the Philippines and the UAE signed a trade agreement expected to increase fruit exports such as bananas and pineapples to Middle Eastern markets.

Separately, the Netherlands has expanded agricultural cooperation with Gulf countries through trade missions and technology exchange, highlighting growing regional interest in food systems suited to dry climates.

Together, these moves place Mozambique’s talks with the UAE within a broader push by Gulf states to secure food supply partnerships and share expertise across borders.

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