Promoting resource smart green technologies in technical professional and higher education, to increase Mozambique’s food production and nutrition security
In this Mozambique based project MSM works together with Polytechnic Institute of Braganca (IPB), University of Lisbon – School of Agriculture (ISA), CITAVERDE bedrijfsopleidingen, Q-Point B.V., CESO Consultancy and Delphy B.V.. Instituto Superior Politécnico de Manica (ISPM), Instituto de investigação Agrária de Moçambique (IIAM) and Instituto Médio Técnico-Profissional Agrário de Chimoio (IMTPAC) are the beneficiaries of the project.
Through the project a Centre for Innovation and Resource-Smart Green Technologies in Manica (Chimoio) attached to ISPM will be established. Here Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Higher Education (HE), research institutions, public and private sector will partner to facilitate innovations, knowledge and skill sharing. This will be based on demonstrations of the benefits of resource-smart green technologies for different customer segments, best practice exchange, resource sharing and joint programs. This with the aim on increasing access for young people and smallholder farmers to skills training and employment creation.
The model farms and post-harvest technologies that will be established at ISPM will be targeting different customer segments, from low tech innovative resource smart green technologies/practices up to more advanced investments in a greenhouse and controlled cultivation practices and its benefits. Following good practices in Kenya, Ghana and Ethiopia farm plots will be assigned for students to apply lessons learned in their own experimental plot for their incubation projects as part of the curricula. Also Female talent programmes at partner institutions ISPM, IMTPAC and IIAM as part of their policies and procedures to ensure an environment which is gender sensitive are included in the project.
Furthermore, the project will help link students who want to start an enterprise with farmers and service providers who have knowledge, skills and practices through the mentorship program. Students from ISPM and IMTPAC and SME’s/smallholder farmers will learn from the demonstration farm plots with low-tech up to advanced green technologies. Lead farmers attached to the Centre for Innovation and Resource-Smart Green Technologies will be trained and train colleague farmers on resource-smart green practices and sustainable business models. The aim is also to train extension agents on hands on skills through the centre.
