44 Names: Every COJAZ Farmer Has a Story in Zambézia features 44 real farmers and their agricultural plans in Mozambique. Through Maputo Bridge Capital (MBC), founded by Anselmo Boaventura, sponsors connect directly with these verified smallholder farmers to provide the essential resources needed for the upcoming planting season.
They Are Not Statistics
When you read about African agriculture in the news, you see numbers: "36 million hectares of arable land." "81% of the population in agriculture." "95% informal economy."
These numbers are true. But they hide the most important fact: every number is a person with a name.
Here are 44 names. 44 farmers in Zambézia, Mozambique. Members of COJAZ — Cooperativa dos Jovens Agropecuários da Zambézia. They are ready to plant on November 1, 2026. They need seeds and fertilizer to succeed.
The Three Founders
Zito Arcanjo Domingos — President of COJAZ. 5 years farming. Based in Quelimane. Crops: maize, cabbage, cowpea, sesame, tomato. M-Pesa: 843697570. He organized 44 young people into a cooperative. He secured 500 hectares of land.
Alexandre Chico Xavier — Founding member. 5 years farming. Quelimane. Crops: maize, tomato, pepper, cucumber. M-Pesa: 846559144.
Cassimo Rodrigues Xavier Arivo — Founding member. 5 years farming. Quelimane. Crops: tomato, pepper, rice. M-Pesa: 846047868.
The 41 Members
In Quelimane / Madal / Varela:
- Aboo Rodrigues Xavier Arivo — tomato, peanuts
- Lidia Salvador Sorte — tomato
- Armone Celestino Fernando — tomato
- Nela Felix Joaquim — tomato, pepper (M-Pesa: 869379302)
In Mocuba / Namanjavira:
- Augusto Santos Adolfo — maize, tomato, cabbage (M-Pesa: 846152788)
- Bonifacio Bernardino Magica — maize, soybean, sesame (M-Pesa: 848981244)
- Francedo Mavuto dos Santos — maize, soybean, sesame, cowpea (M-Pesa: 878779012)
- Luisa Fernando Mabolowa — maize
- Jose Culete — mixed crops (M-Pesa: 871077991)
- Judite Teles Joao Manecas — maize
- Beto Geraldo Solinho — maize, tomato (M-Pesa: 845121702)
- Felismina Ossifo Froi Nabara — maize, tomato (M-Pesa: 864708080)
- Dinamarcia Tome Albassute — maize, soybean
- Juvencio Felex Joao — maize, cowpea, sesame
- Suzana Alfazema Manjor — maize, cowpea
- Isa Geraldo Sozinho — maize
- Ruti Helio Rosa Rosario — maize
- Esteves Joao Maenato — maize
- Dulce Elias Francisco — maize, cowpea
- Adriano Guido dos Santos — maize, soybean
- Neto Carlitos Mpeta — maize
- Filipe Julio Major — maize
- Isa Vasco Carico — maize
- Filipe Nicolao — maize
- Mario Nelinho Carvalho — maize
- Gloria Artur — maize, tomato, pepper
- Juleca Antonio — maize
- Mercia Esteves Fernando — maize, tomato, cabbage
- Arsenio Victor Mulobuana — maize
- Miguel Geral Maribia — maize
In Mugeba / Lugela:
- Paula Ernesto Mutage — maize, soybean
- Cecilia Eliseu Alfoi — maize
- Alferes Ficial — maize, tomato
- Tomas Maglasse — soybean, sesame, cowpea
In other areas of Zambézia:
- Abel Antonio Joaquim — maize
- Antonio Sozinho Molemeano — tomato, pepper (M-Pesa: 855206230)
- Daluz Daniel Sel Victor da Silva — maize, tomato
- Emercia Ismael Baptista Olimpio — tomato
- Flora Julio Melgado — tomato
- Menducha Fonseca Augusto Matos — maize, tomato
- Teresa Nordino Faquir — maize, tomato, peanuts
- Silvio Joaquim — maize, tomato (M-Pesa: 856592308)
$25 plants a farmer's season in Zambézia.
Paid straight to the local seed shop. You get the receipt, a field photo and a harvest update.
A gift, not an investment. Not tax-deductible.
The Land
All 44 farmers have access to 500 hectares at Povoado de Muaquiua, Zambézia. GPS: -16.70389, 37.37083.
The Role of Technology in Agriculture
While MBC connects sponsors to farmers today, the future of Mozambican agriculture may involve advanced technological integration. Research into remote sensing and high-frequency satellite imagery allows for the observation of crop health via NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). In the future, concepts like artificial intelligence could potentially analyze these data streams to predict yields or optimize planting schedules. These represent innovative research directions rather than current offerings, serving as a vision for how data could one day support smallholder agricultural productivity across the region.
A Smallholder Farmer's Season
For a farmer in Zambézia, the arrival of the rains in November signals the start of the planting season. This is a critical window where soil conditions must be optimal for sowing. Access to quality seeds and fertilizers at this precise moment determines the potential success of the harvest. By providing the necessary resources to local shops beforehand, sponsors ensure that farmers can act immediately when the climate aligns, effectively bridging the gap between planting and future yields.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is NDVI? A: NDVI stands for Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, a method used to measure crop health and vegetation density from satellite imagery.
Q: How does satellite technology track farm progress? A: Satellites like Sentinel-2 pass over land at regular intervals, capturing data that allows observers to monitor changes in vegetation cover over the growing season.
Q: What is the significance of the planting season? A: The planting season is determined by the arrival of rains, which softens the soil and provides the hydration required for seeds to germinate successfully.
How to Help
MBC connects sponsors with verified smallholder farmers like those at COJAZ. A sponsor gives from $25, which goes directly to the farmer's local seed and fertilizer shop; the sponsor receives the receipt and field photos. These sponsorships are gifts, not investments, and are not tax-deductible. After harvest, farmers repay into a Community Fund to help the next farmer. To support these farmers, visit Sponsor a Farmer.