Mozambique has agro-economic conditions for the cultivation of various crops. The district of Bilene in the province of Gaza has conditions for the cultivation of macadamia, cashew, rice, corn, beans and vegetables. Macadamia and cashew nuts have a potential external market, existing at the level of companies that are dedicated to process these nuts for export.

There is currently a shortage of macadamia and cashew supply, and this project by SUPER KWICK seeks to increase the availability of raw products by promoting their cultivation. At the planting stage, these crops require a lot of water for irrigation.

The use of renewable energy to pump water for distribution to the agricultural fields is an opportunity to ensure the sustainability of the crop.

Besides the promotion of crops for export, the project also seeks to promote the production of crops for domestic consumption, since the country still cannot meet its needs in terms of vegetables and cereals, hence resorting to importing rice from Asian countries and vegetables from neighboring South Africa.

With the funds received through the BCI SUPER credit line, SUPER KWICK Lda will install a solar system capable of generating 2515W of power to enable the pumping of water for irrigation of the macadamia, cashew, rice, bean crops farms covering an area of 30 ha.“The use of solar energy for water pumping offers an opportunity to increase the productivity of farmers in the Bilene region, who currently practice rain fed agriculture that depends solely on rainfall”. Aldo Gomes dos Santos Baúque, general manager, SUPER KWICK Lda.

The implementation of this project will bring benefits to the communities of Mhate and Chilengue in Bilene district as it will serve as a bench mark for their migration from rain-fed agriculture to solar powered irrigation agriculture where production occurs all year round due to the permanent availability of water. The practice of solar-powered irrigation based agriculture will impact on the food security of the communities as well as increase their income and production surplus for commercial purposes.