Women Farmers in Mozambique: From Bean Pastries to Bountiful Harvests
Learn how a Mozambican farmer turned her harvest into a thriving business and is now reshaping her community, one bean pastry at a time.
Joaquina Varrancha, 56, has always felt deeply connected to the land. She lives in the Ribauè district of Nampula Province, Mozambique, and has been farming since she was a teenager. But for decades, her dedication did not translate into prosperity.
The Weight of the Past: Challenges Women Farmers in Mozambique Face
For most of her life, Joaquina only grew enough food to support herself and her family. They grew corn, cassava, sorghum, and peanuts on their small plot of land. She lacked access to certified seeds, which can offer higher yields, or proper farming techniques. As a result, the soil was infertile, and severe pest infestations affected her crops.
Joaquina’s daily life was marked by exhausting manual labor and scarcity.
Clearing the field was such hard work that I had to ask three other people for help. Since I didn’t have any money, my way of showing my gratitude was to make “bagias” (fried bean patties) for us to eat while we were weeding and hoeing.”
Despite her efforts, yields were rarely good. Sometimes they weren’t even enough to feed the household, which includes her daughter and seven grandchildren. And without a sustainable income, they often couldn’t afford quality seeds or fertilizers.
The Turning Point: Access to Certified Seeds and Farm Credit
Then, in 2025, Joaquina heard about the Txuna Insumos project, an initiative of the Women IN Business program in partnership with M-Pesa and Bayer. For the first time, Joaquina realized the true value of technical training and digital financial tools. The project provided her with agricultural knowledge and easier access to inputs through the M-Pesa mobile platform.
The project gave me the opportunity to take out loans easily and without complications. I was finally able to buy certified maize and peanut seeds, as well as fertilizer and insecticides to combat the problems that had always destroyed my crops.”
Previously, Joaquina planted without any technique, which resulted in only about 125 kg of peanuts and 500 kg of maize. Through Bayer’s training, she learned improved farming practices, including proper spacing, planting depth, fertilization, and spraying. Using fortified maize and peanut seeds, her harvest increased to 250 kg of peanuts and 1.5 tons of maize.
A Measurable Impact: Higher Yields and Household Income
The support has dramatically changed Joaquina’s daily routine and household finances:
- Efficiency and less physical effort: She reclaimed time and effort from manual weeding through the careful application of herbicides.
- Increased yields and productivity: By learning to sow seeds between rows, apply mulch, and combat the devastating funnel caterpillar, her production increased
- Diversification and commercial value: Joaquina no longer farms solely for subsistence and has learned to grow new crops with higher commercial value, such as soybeans and butter beans.
- Modernization of daily life: Through M-Pesa, she now manages her loans, makes savings, and even buys electricity for her home with a simple tap on her cell phone.
“Having the knowledge and assurance that I can buy quality inputs means having the assurance of a successful harvest,” Joaquina said.
Lasting Change for Nampula’s Rural Economy and Food Security
Joaquina’s story reflects the promising potential impact of the Txuna Insumos project on Nampula’s agricultural sector and local economy. By helping farmers access tools and technology, the project offers a pathway to revitalize the rural economy and strengthen regional food security.
Beyond the farm, Joaquina’s newfound financial stability has allowed her to pursue her ambitions. She is now using the money she saved through the program to invest in a new business selling bean pastries. As the leader of her local savings group, she is also sharing these skills with others, showing her community that agriculture can support a prosperous future.
