Potential of and constraints to the rice Green Revolution in Mozambique: A case study of the Chokwe irrigation scheme

This paper investigates the potential of and constraints to a lowland rice Green Revolution in Mozambique, using data from an agro-climatically favorable area, the Chokwe irrigation scheme. Our data show that, although the potential is high, the insufficient supply of irrigation water, excessively expensive chemical fertilizer, and moderately costly labor hinder the scheme from achieving that potential. First of all, an improvement in irrigation is crucial as it increases yield not only directly but also indirectly through its complementary relationship to chemical fertilizer. We also find that an improvement in credit access is important as it can increase the application of chemical fertilizer and labor by making the acquisition of these expensive inputs through markets possible. The unavailability of hired and exchange labor during peak seasons is another constraint to the intensive use of labor. The introduction of rice varieties with a shorter maturity duration would relax the timing of transplanting and thus spread out the peak seasons' labor demand.

► We examine the potential of rice in a large scale irrigation scheme in Mozambique. ► Identified constrains are unreliable irrigation and expensive fertilizer and labor. ► Reliable irrigation encourages chemical fertilizer use. ► Improved credit access increases the use of chemical fertilizer and hired labor.