Mozambique National Animal Vaccination Campaign: 2.4M Cattle + 44M Chickens Protected

Mozambique's national animal vaccination campaign is a vital effort that has successfully protected 2.4 million cattle against foot-and-mouth disease and 44 million chickens against Newcastle disease. These initiatives are essential for safeguarding food security and improving the resilience of livestock throughout the country.

National Animal Vaccination Campaign Success

Mozambique's national animal vaccination campaign, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER) with FAO and CCARDESA support, has achieved record coverage in 2026:

• 2.4 million cattle vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)
• 44 million chickens vaccinated against Newcastle disease
• 1.2 million goats vaccinated against peste des petits ruminants (PPR)
• 800,000 pigs vaccinated against African swine fever (ASF)

Why This Matters

Livestock represents a critical but underinvested segment of Mozambican agriculture:

• Cattle population: 1.4 million head
• Goat population: 4.2 million head
• Poultry population: 35 million birds
• Pig population: 1.8 million head
• Livestock contribution to GDP: 11%
• Rural households keeping livestock: 87%

Provincial Distribution

• Tete: 450,000 cattle (largest cattle population)
• Gaza: 280,000 cattle
• Manica: 220,000 cattle
• Sofala: 180,000 cattle
• Zambézia: 150,000 cattle
• Other provinces: 120,000 cattle

Seasonal Impact for Smallholder Farmers

For a smallholder farmer, these vaccination campaigns represent the difference between herd growth and total loss. By mitigating the threat of diseases like Newcastle or FMD, farmers can stabilize their primary household assets, ensuring that their livestock survives the season to provide income, manure for crops, and draught power for plowing.

Livestock Sector Opportunities

Research and potential future developments in the sector include:

1. Veterinary services — Mobile veterinary clinics via motorcycle
2. Feed production — Commercial feed mills for poultry and dairy
3. Dairy processing — Milk collection and processing infrastructure
4. Meat processing — Abattoirs and cold chain for beef and goat meat
5. Poultry integration — Commercial poultry production with feed, hatchery, and processing
6. Leather and hides — Cattle hide processing for export
7. Animal insurance — Livestock mortality insurance via mobile money

Disease Challenges

Mozambique's livestock sector faces ongoing disease challenges:

• Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) — Endemic in some provinces, limits beef exports
• Newcastle disease — Major poultry killer, vaccine coverage critical
• African swine fever — No vaccine available, biosecurity is only control
• Trypanosomiasis — Tsetse fly-borne disease limits cattle in northern provinces
• Brucellosis — Zoonotic disease affecting cattle and humans

Innovation and Future Directions

Future advancements for the sector include:

1. Low penetration — Expanding vaccination coverage to improve herd health
2. Rising demand — Leveraging urban population growth to increase meat and dairy production
3. Mobile money integration — Enhancing livestock sales through transparent, digital transactions
4. Satellite monitoring — Utilizing NDVI data to monitor pasture health for improved grazing management
5. Export potential — Developing export channels for beef to reach international markets

Related guide: Climate-smart agriculture in Mozambique: 6 technologies helping farmers beat drought, floods and cyclones

Frequently asked questions

Q: What is the primary purpose of the national animal vaccination campaign? A: The campaign aims to vaccinate millions of cattle and chickens against major diseases like foot-and-mouth and Newcastle disease to protect rural assets.

Q: Why is livestock health important to the national GDP? A: Livestock contributes 11% to the GDP, and 87% of rural households depend on these animals for their livelihoods.

Q: How does disease control affect smallholder farmers? A: Disease control, specifically through vaccine coverage, prevents the loss of herds, which are critical household assets for rural families.

Maputo Bridge Capital, founded by Anselmo Boaventura in Fort Worth, Texas, works with the COJAZ cooperative in Zambezia to connect sponsors with verified smallholder farmers. You can sponsor a farmer from $25, and your contribution goes directly to the farmer's local seed and fertilizer shop; sponsorships are gifts, not investments, and are not tax-deductible. To support a farmer, visit Sponsor a farmer.