Maputo, 1 October 2025 – Three fish farmers' associations in Southern Mozambique have been successfully transformed into legally registered cooperatives through UNIDO's Market Access of Mozambican Aquaculture Products (MAMAP) project, part of the Global Market Access Programme (GMAP). The initiative benefited 79 producers across Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane provinces between April and May 2025, creating new opportunities for sustainable aquaculture development.
The newly established cooperatives – Inharrime Fish Farmers' Cooperative (Coopinhar), Mahanhane Fish Farmers' Cooperative (CPM), and Boa Vontade Fish Farmers' Cooperative (CPBV) – have had their statutes published in the Official Gazette, marking their formal recognition under Mozambican law. With combined share capital exceeding 780,000 meticais ($12,200), the cooperatives can now access bank financing, enter commercial contracts, and negotiate collectively for better prices on inputs and products.
The transformation addresses a critical challenge faced by small-scale aquaculture producers who previously operated informally and in isolation. “Previously, each person sold their fish individually and accepted any price offered,” explains António Júnior Maposse, president-elect of CPM in Maputo. The cooperative model now enables participation in public tenders, collaboration with processing companies, and access to government programmes supporting the aquaculture sector.
The transformation process involved intensive five-day training sessions tailored to the local context, using participatory methods and practical case studies. Forty women and 39 men received training in cooperative management, business planning, and legal frameworks. Technical support was provided by the National Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (IDEPA) and the Mozambican Association for the Promotion of Modern Cooperativism (AMPCM).
Women's participation has been a defining feature of this initiative. In Gaza, 23 of the 30 members of CPBV are women, with Açucena Rosa Manhique elected president. “We learned about financial management and production planning. This completely changes our ability to contribute to local development,” she said. In Inhambane, Maria Clara leads Coopinhar, demonstrating how aquaculture creates opportunities for women's economic empowerment in rural communities.
Maria Clara highlighted the transformation's impact: “We've wanted to organise ourselves better for a long time, but we didn't know how. With the support of the MAMAP project and IDEPA, we finally understand the benefits of working as a cooperative. We now have a legal structure that allows us to access credit and negotiate better prices for our production.”
Looking ahead, the cooperatives are positioned to supply supermarkets, restaurants and formal markets while benefiting from economies of scale through collective purchasing. IDEPA has committed to continuing technical support, including assistance with commercial licensing and initial provision of production kits for cooperatives in Gaza and Maputo.
With Mozambique's potential to produce up to 4 million tons of fish annually – but currently achieving only a fraction of that capacity – cooperative organisation emerges as a key strategy to unlock sector growth. The establishment of these cooperatives demonstrates that with adequate technical assistance and targeted training, subsistence aquaculture can be transformed into sustainable businesses that drive food security, create jobs, and strengthen local economies.
The MAMAP project, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), continues working to consolidate the Mozambican aquaculture value chain, with these cooperatives serving as success stories to inspire transformation across the sector at national level.
Source: UNIDO