Mozambique: Japan donates 17,000 tonnes of rice

The Japanese Government on 7 January donated 17,000 tonnes of rice worth $10 million to Mozambique. With this donation the assistance of Japan to Mozambique since 1977 amounts to $150 million.

The donation will be distributed through the private sector, with 7,000 tonnes being sold in the south of Mozambique, 5,000 tonnes in the centre of the country and the balance in the north.

The proceeds of these sales are earmarked for the education sector, with priority being given to children.

At the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in 2008 the Japanese government pledged to double its assistance to Africa over 5 years.

During the ceremony in Maputo where the donation was formally handed over, the Japanese Ambassador to Mozambique, Susumu Segawa, stressed that his country will keep its commitments and will continue contributing to Mozambique's development.

Japan has been donating rice and wheat to Mozambique since 1999, which has greatly contributed to the reduction of the food deficit across the country. Between 1999 and 2006 it donated 78,000 tonnes of rice and 29,658 tonnes of wheat.