📊 Commodity Prices by Province (August 24, 2026)
Maize (Milho)
| Province | Price (MZN/kg) | Price (USD/ton) | Trend vs. Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maputo | 42 | $661 | ↑ +5% |
| Gaza | 38 | $598 | ↑ +3% |
| Inhambane | 40 | $629 | → Stable |
| Sofala | 35 | $551 | ↓ -2% |
| Manica | 33 | $520 | → Stable |
| Tete | 30 | $472 | ↓ -3% |
| Zambézia | 32 | $504 | → Stable |
| Nampula | 36 | $567 | ↑ +4% |
| Cabo Delgado | 38 | $598 | ↑ +2% |
| Niassa | 34 | $535 | → Stable |
National average: 35.8 MZN/kg ($564/ton) Harvest price (April): 15 MZN/kg Current premium: +139% over harvest price
Maputo Bridge Capital, founded by Anselmo Boaventura in Fort Worth, Texas, provides these market insights as we work with the COJAZ cooperative in Zambezia to support smallholder farmers. By connecting sponsors with verified producers, we facilitate the flow of capital directly to local seed and fertilizer shops, where 92% of every donation goes, while 8% supports field verification and documentation.
Cashew (Caju)
| Province | Raw (MZN/kg) | Shelled (MZN/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Cabo Delgado | 65 | 250 |
| Nampula | 60 | 240 |
| Zambézia | 62 | 245 |
| Export price (AGOA): | $8/kg shelled |
Sesame (Sésamo)
| Province | Price (MZN/kg) | Price (USD/ton) |
|---|---|---|
| Nampula | 55 | $866 |
| Cabo Delgado | 58 | $913 |
| Zambézia | 52 | $819 |
Cassava (Mandioca)
| Province | Fresh (MZN/kg) | Flour (MZN/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Nampula | 8 | 25 |
| Zambézia | 7 | 22 |
| Maputo | 10 | 28 |
Beans (Feijão)
| Province | Price (MZN/kg) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Manica | 65 | ↑ +8% |
| Tete | 60 | ↑ +5% |
| Zambézia | 58 | → Stable |
🛰️ NDVI Crop Health Summary (Sentinel-2 Satellite)
Updated: August 23, 2026
| Province | Average NDVI | Status | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zambézia | 0.78 | 🟢 Healthy | Dense vegetation, good rainfall |
| Manica | 0.72 | 🟢 Healthy | Crops developing well |
| Nampula | 0.65 | 🟡 Moderate | Some water stress in coastal areas |
| Cabo Delgado | 0.68 | 🟡 Moderate | Recovering from earlier dry spell |
| Tete | 0.48 | 🔴 Stress | Significant water deficit |
| Gaza | 0.42 | 🔴 Stress | Chronic drought conditions |
| Sofala | 0.70 | 🟢 Healthy | Good post-flood recovery |
| Niassa | 0.75 | 🟢 Healthy | Excellent growing conditions |
| Maputo | 0.55 | 🟡 Moderate | Moderate stress |
| Inhambane | 0.50 | 🟡 Moderate | Coastal stress |
National average NDVI: 0.63 (Moderate-Healthy)
NDVI Interpretation Guide
- 0.8-1.0: Dense, healthy vegetation
- 0.6-0.8: Healthy crops
- 0.4-0.6: Moderate stress, needs attention
- 0.2-0.4: Severe stress, crop failure risk
- Below 0.2: Bare soil or water
Technological advancements like satellite-based NDVI monitoring represent a potential future for precision agriculture in Mozambique. While these tools currently offer researchers and large-scale operators vital insights into crop health and water stress, we envision a future where such data-driven approaches help smallholders optimize input timing and mitigate environmental risks.
🌦️ Weather Forecast (August 24-30, 2026)
This Week's Forecast
| Province | Rainfall (mm) | Temp (°C) | Alert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maputo | 0-5 | 18-28 | Dry season — normal |
| Gaza | 0 | 20-35 | ⚠️ Drought continues |
| Inhambane | 0-10 | 20-30 | Dry season |
| Sofala | 5-15 | 18-28 | Light rains possible |
| Manica | 5-10 | 15-25 | Cool season planting window |
| Tete | 0 | 22-38 | ⚠️ Heat wave, drought stress |
| Zambézia | 10-25 | 20-28 | Early rains — good for land prep |
| Nampula | 5-15 | 22-30 | Humidity increasing |
| Cabo Delgado | 10-20 | 24-32 | Rainy season approaching |
| Niassa | 5-15 | 15-25 | Cool, good for land preparation |
Seasonal Context
- Current season: Dry season (May-October)
- Planting season starts: October-November
- Hunger season: September-January (prices peak)
- Next harvest: March-April 2027
Monitoring these cycles is essential for understanding the rhythms of Mozambican agriculture. As we look toward the planting season, our field verification efforts in Zambezia ensure that every contribution directly assists a farmer in securing the seeds and fertilizers necessary for their upcoming harvest.
The Nature of a Seed
A picture guide to choosing, testing, saving and planting seed in Mozambique, with lessons from Asia. Read the cloth test and the salt jar test free.
PDF ebook, instant download. $5 of every copy buys seed for a farmer.
📈 Market Opportunities This Week
🔥 Buy Signal: Maize
- Prices rising across all provinces (+3-5% week-over-week)
- Current: 35-42 MZN/kg vs. harvest price of 15 MZN/kg
- Action: If you have stored grain in PICS bags, NOW is the time to sell
- MBC price alert SMS sent to all subscribed farmers
🌱 Planting Opportunity: Manica and Niassa
- NDVI healthy (0.72-0.75), early rains possible
- Soil moisture adequate for land preparation
- Action: Begin land preparation for October planting
- Recommended crops: Maize (Panama variety), beans, groundnut
💰 Export Opportunity: Cashew
- Shelled cashew at 240-250 MZN/kg ($3.77-3.93/kg)
- AGOA export price: $8/kg
- Export premium: +107% over domestic shelled price
- Action: Cooperatives with shelling equipment should target AGOA export
⚠️ Risk Alert: Tete and Gaza
- NDVI below 0.5 — severe crop stress
- No rainfall forecast for the week
- Action: Farmers in these provinces should plant drought-tolerant crops (sorghum, cowpea) instead of maize
- Weather-indexed insurance triggers approaching for insured farmers
📰 Agricultural News Headlines
- FACIM 2026 opens August 31 — Mozambique's largest trade fair in Maputo. Agricultural cooperatives should register for exhibition space.
- Government commits $2B to agriculture over 4 years — SUSTENTA program expansion announced.
- 14.6 million tons of agricultural products reached markets — President Chapo reports production growth.
- 2.67 million face acute food insecurity — IPC Phase 3+ alert in southern provinces.
- 2026 floods caused $486M agricultural damage — FAO reports recovery needs.
- National animal vaccination campaign — 2.4M cattle + 44M chickens targeted.
- IIAM releases 5 new potato + 5 soybean varieties — Netherlands €12.5M seed program.
💡 MBC Recommendations for This Week
| Farmer Type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| With stored grain | SELL NOW — prices at +139% over harvest |
| Preparing for planting | Begin land prep in Manica, Niassa, Zambézia |
| In Tete/Gaza | Switch to drought-tolerant crops (sorghum, cowpea) |
| With cashew trees | Harvest preparation — shelling equipment ready |
| Cooperative leaders | Register for FACIM 2026 (opens Aug 31) |
| With MBC supported crops | Check NDVI score — ensure crops are healthy for yield |
| Without insurance | Enroll in weather-indexed insurance before planting season |
📱 How to Get This Brief Daily
WhatsApp: Send "Quero alertas diários" to (516) 360-8323 SMS: Subscribe to MBC AgriSignals (free) Web: Visit maputobridgecapital.com/blog daily Instagram: Follow @maputobridgecapital for visual summaries
Versão Portuguesa — Resumo
Preços de Milho por Província (24 Agosto 2026)
| Província | Preço (MZN/kg) | Tendência |
|---|---|---|
| Maputo | 42 | ↑ +5% |
| Manica | 33 | → Estável |
| Tete | 30 | ↓ -3% |
| Zambézia | 32 | → Estável |
| Nampula | 36 | ↑ +4% |
Média nacional: 35,8 MZN/kg Prémio sobre preço de colheita: +139%
NDVI por Satélite
- 🟢 Saudável: Zambézia (0,78), Niassa (0,75), Manica (0,72), Sofala (0,70)
- 🟡 Moderado: Nampula (0,65), Cabo Delgado (0,68), Maputo (0,55)
- 🔴 Stress: Tete (0,48), Gaza (0,42)
Recomendações da Semana
- VENDER: Grão armazenado em sacos PICS — preços +139% acima da colheita
- PLANTAR: Preparar terra em Manica, Niassa, Zambézia
- RISCO: Tete e Gaza — mudar para culturas tolerantes à seca
- EXPORTAR: Caju descascado via AGOA ($8/kg vs. 250 MZN/kg local)
Notícias
- FACIM 2026 abre 31 de agosto
- Governo compromete $2 mil milhões em agricultura
- 2,67 milhões em insegurança alimentar aguda
- IIAM lança 5 novas variedades de batata + 5 de soja
The Smallholder Farmer's Season
For a smallholder farmer, this period represents a critical transition. Those with stored grain are now realizing significant value by selling at peak market prices. Simultaneously, farmers in regions with healthy NDVI scores must prioritize immediate land preparation and seed selection to maximize their yields for the upcoming cycle. In areas facing climate stress, the focus shifts to diversifying crops to ensure food security and economic stability.
Frequently asked questions
What are PICS bags? PICS (Purdue Improved Crop Storage) bags are specialized storage tools used by farmers to preserve grain quality after harvest and prevent pest damage during storage.
What is the significance of NDVI? NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) is a satellite-based measurement used to assess crop health, where higher scores indicate robust vegetation and lower scores signal potential drought or stress.
What is the AGOA export opportunity? AGOA refers to trade opportunities that allow cooperatives with the capacity to shell cashew nuts to access international markets at significantly higher price premiums compared to local domestic sales.
Maputo Bridge Capital (MBC), founded by Anselmo Boaventura in Fort Worth, Texas, connects sponsors with verified smallholder farmers in Mozambique. We work with the COJAZ cooperative in Zambezia to support local farming families. You can sponsor a farmer from $25 to help provide essential inputs; please note that sponsorships are gifts, not investments, and are not tax-deductible.
