Papers by Jaquelino Massingue
In Mozambique, 43% of children under 5 years had signs of chronic malnutrition in 2011 (MOH 2011)... more In Mozambique, 43% of children under 5 years had signs of chronic malnutrition in 2011 (MOH 2011), and the linkage between poverty and malnutrition is clear (MPD 2010). Given the importance of agriculture in Mozambique as a source of income and of food, in national and international discussions, agriculture had begun to occupy a central role in the debates about food security and nutrition. The causes of malnutrition are multisectoral, especially between agriculture, health and education, and only a combination of actions may be the solution. In this paper, the emphasis will be given to the evidence of linkages and solutions based on agriculture and nutrition.
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious issue for 70 percent of Mozambique's children aged betwee... more Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious issue for 70 percent of Mozambique's children aged between six months and five years, particularly those living in rural areas although those in lowincome urban households are also at risk. Lack of access to vitamin A-rich foods contributes to the 35 percent child-mortality rate. Numerous efforts have been made to overcome this through vaccination and food fortification but these often do not reach enough children from rural households and are not cost-effective. A previous pilot project in 2002 in Zambézia province showed that introducing biofortified orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) into the farming system and diet could alleviate VAD. It concluded that the incorporation of a marketing component in a similar intervention could spread the benefits of OFSP to a wider consumer segment and provide a greater incentive for farmers to include it in their cropping system if there was a market for it. This study attempts to understand the effectiveness of various marketing pathways to sustainably introduce OFSP varieties into communities with inadequate vitamin A intake. Little research has been undertaken on the marketing of sweet potato in Mozambique and no research had been carried out on how a vitamin-rich variety could sustainably be introduced to informal marketing chains, to facilitate long-term demand. The purpose of this research is to gain an in-depth understanding of the drivers of sweet potato marketing and to analyse the effectiveness of the OFSP marketing strategy adopted by the HarvestPlus Reaching End Users Project (2006-2010) in facilitating market development. The conceptual framework draws on transaction cost theory as well as the importance of consumer sovereignty in deciding which products are demanded. A key factor in developing market linkages is addressing the ways that traders use to overcome the significant constraints associated with the trading of bulky, perishable produce while responding to short season market demands and supply sources. Key findings indicate that farmers' ability to gain from participation in OFSP marketing increased according to their links with existing active sweet potato marketing chains, distance to markets and consumer awareness of the produce's advantages. Traders accepted the new crop if they understood that the product was demanded by consumers aware of its nutritional and health v advantages. A price premium for OFSP evolved, reflecting its superior nutrient qualities and scarce supply. This did not deter consumers and their demand for the produce if they were aware of the health benefits for themselves and their children from consuming it.
This work was carried out as a monitoring activity for the seed commercial sector. The commercial... more This work was carried out as a monitoring activity for the seed commercial sector. The commercial sector of seed is examined, in order to identify the incidence of market failure, and assess the need of specific public investments. It was found that: 1) there is no available data sets on seed sector; 2) although new rules were created to motivate the seed sector, there is still need for creation of places for companies' registration. There is also need for the creation of lower category for classification for local origin seed; 3) there is limited demand for certified seed; 4) there is a weak linkage between the seed companies, group of seed producers, and the public sector initiatives which provide incentives for use of certified seed; however, there is a noticeable interest in producing seed by farmers; 5) the existence of one more seed company in the market, increased the competition in the sector, and increased the number of variety of seed to be chosen by the farmers. Howev...
This policy brief outlines a number of steps for strengthening Mozambique's seed system based... more This policy brief outlines a number of steps for strengthening Mozambique's seed system based on interviews conducted in the year 2000 and a review of existing literature. These include measures to speed the distribution of new seed varieties, and to place this distribution on a more sustainable footing. Recommendations are offered for strategies to better link variety development with seed multiplication and distribution. Proposals are highlighted to improve the complementarities of public and commercial investments in the national seed system. Opportunities for improving the efficiency of seed delivery through emergency relief programs are briefly reviewed. The paper concludes with a call for greater dialogue across all elements of the national seed sector in order to speed the pursuit of a common agenda for seed system development.
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 2002
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious issue for 70 percent of Mozambique’s children aged betwee... more Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious issue for 70 percent of Mozambique’s children aged between six months and five years, particularly those living in rural areas although those in low-income urban households are also at risk. Lack of access to vitamin A-rich foods contributes to the 35 percent child-mortality rate. Numerous efforts have been made to overcome this through vaccination and food fortification but these often do not reach enough children from rural households and are not cost-effective. A previous pilot project in 2002 in Zambezia province showed that introducing biofortified orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) into the farming system and diet could alleviate VAD. It concluded that the incorporation of a marketing component in a similar intervention could spread the benefits of OFSP to a wider consumer segment and provide a greater incentive for farmers to include it in their cropping system if there was a market for it. This study attempts to understand the effectiv...
Miscellaneous Publications, 2016
We use a combination of descriptive and econometric analysis of rural household animal traction u... more We use a combination of descriptive and econometric analysis of rural household animal traction use to assess the relative role of disease pressure as compared with other potential determinants of animal traction use. The focus on the potential of area expansion using animal traction rather than motorization is because draft animals appreciate while tractors depreciate over time. Second, the direct transition from hand-hoe to tractorization is usually not cost-effective (Pingali et al., 1987). The costs of destumping are much higher for tractor tillage because a much higher quality of destumping is required in order to minimize the damage to tractor-drawn implements
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Directorate of Economics, Republic of Mozambique
High food price instability is one of the major risks facing agricultural households from develop... more High food price instability is one of the major risks facing agricultural households from developing countries. Resulting from agronomic factors as well as the historically low levels of world grain stocks and climate change, increased food price volatility has attracted renewed interest among policy experts in identifying appropriate policy instruments to counter its effects. This paper applies the GARCH model to data from twelve maize markets in Mozambique to estimate price seasonality and volatility. The results reveal the presence of seasonality, and high volatility. There is scope for improving price stability through the use of both market and non-market based price stabilization interventions that encourage investments in market infrastructure such as roads, warehouses and a market information system; institutions such as warehouse receipt system, credit and insurance; maintaining a strategic reserve and reduced tariffs and food-for-work programmes.
During 1998/99, MARD/MSU researchers followed the progress of the improved maize program in five ... more During 1998/99, MARD/MSU researchers followed the progress of the improved maize program in five CLUSA-assisted associations located in two different agroecological zones of Nampula Province. The objective of this study was to assess how greater involvement of farmer associations in maize intensification affects marketing costs and extension effectiveness. This preliminary report summarizes the observations on the 1998/99 production season and part of the 1999/00 marketing season, based on analysis of maize yield data and informal group interviews with participating farmer associations carried out in March and November 1999. It also discusses some of the preliminary conclusions that are emerging from the broader three-year maize intensification study.
The purpose of this working paper is to help accelerate improvements in seed sector performance b... more The purpose of this working paper is to help accelerate improvements in seed sector performance by providing a practical framework for reviewing seed sector development strategy in a market economy context. The paper is divided into three major sections. The first section defines what a seed system is and presents a generalized model of the stages of seed sector development over time, identifying the driving forces at each stage. The second part of the paper describes the current organization and performance of Mozambique's seed sector, concluding with the constraints identified at the first national seed workshop held in Maputo in June 1999. The sector is at present primarily driven by emergency seed supply, most of which is imported.
The situation of chronic malnutrition in Mozambique is critical. About 43% of children under five... more The situation of chronic malnutrition in Mozambique is critical. About 43% of children under five years of age suffer from chronic malnutrition (INE, 2012). The causes that contribute to this situation are many, but several stand out in their importance: 1) inadequate food consumption in quantity or variety in the first years of life; and 2) prevalence of recurrent illnesses such as malaria, diarrhea and gastrointestinal infections that hinder the absorption of nutrients by the body. Another cause is related to poor nutritional status of women before and during pregnancy. Other factors that contribute to chronic malnutrition include low level of maternal education and low family income (Ministry of Health, 2010). Another important cause of chronic malnutrition in Mozambique is early pregnancy among young girls. Thus, the causes of chronic malnutrition are multidimensional and therefore require multi-sectoral solutions.
In Mozambique, 43% of children under 5 years had signs of chronic malnutrition in 2011 (MOH 2011)... more In Mozambique, 43% of children under 5 years had signs of chronic malnutrition in 2011 (MOH 2011), and the linkage between poverty and malnutrition is clear (MPD 2010). Given the importance of agriculture in Mozambique as a source of income and of food, in national and international discussions, agriculture had begun to occupy a central role in the debates about food security and nutrition. The causes of malnutrition are multisectoral, especially between agriculture, health and education, and only a combination of actions may be the solution. In this paper, the emphasis will be given to the evidence of linkages and solutions based on agriculture and nutrition.
Research Papers in Economics, 2001
This policy brief outlines a number of steps for strengthening Mozambique’s seed system based on ... more This policy brief outlines a number of steps for strengthening Mozambique’s seed system based on interviews conducted in the year 2000 and a review of existing literature. These include measures to speed the distribution of new seed varieties, and to place this distribution on a more sustainable footing. Recommendations are offered for strategies to better link variety development with seed multiplication and distribution. Proposals are highlighted to improve the complementarities of public and commercial investments in the national seed system. Opportunities for improving the efficiency of seed delivery through emergency relief programs are briefly reviewed. The paper concludes with a call for greater dialogue across all elements of the national seed sector in order to speed the pursuit of a common agenda for seed system development.
During 1998/99, MARD/MSU researchers followed the progress of the improved maize program in five ... more During 1998/99, MARD/MSU researchers followed the progress of the improved maize program in five CLUSA-assisted associations located in two different agroecological zones of Nampula Province. The objective of this study was to assess how greater involvement of farmer associations in maize intensification affects marketing costs and extension effectiveness. This preliminary report summarizes the observations on the 1998/99 production season and part of the 1999/00 marketing season, based on analysis of maize yield data and informal group interviews with participating farmer associations carried out in March and November 1999. It also discusses some of the preliminary conclusions that are emerging from the broader three-year maize intensification study.
ABSTRACT The purpose of this working paper is to help accelerate improvements in seed sector perf... more ABSTRACT The purpose of this working paper is to help accelerate improvements in seed sector performance by providing a practical framework for reviewing seed sector development strategy in a market economy context. The paper is divided into three major sections. The first section defines what a seed system is and presents a generalized model of the stages of seed sector development over time, identifying the driving forces at each stage. The second part of the paper describes the current organization and performance of Mozambique’s seed sector, concluding with the constraints identified at the first national seed workshop held in Maputo in June 1999. The sector is at present primarily driven by emergency seed supply, most of which is imported.
Food and nutrition bulletin
As the public sector and civil society develop intervention programs to deal with the HIV/ AIDS e... more As the public sector and civil society develop intervention programs to deal with the HIV/ AIDS epidemic, there has been an increasing emphasis on the relationship between nutrition and the disease. Drug interventions may be ineffective, and the progression from HIV infection to full-blown AIDS may be accelerated without adequate nutrition. Mozambique is still fighting an increasing prevalence rate of HIV including in rural areas. Rural households in Mozambique rely heavily on their own agricultural production for the basic macronutrients. To evaluate the extent to which household agricultural production of basic staples meets overall household needs for major macronutrients, comparing households affected and not directly affected by HIV/ AIDS and other major illnesses over two time periods. Methods. This research analyzes nationally representative panel data from rural household surveys conducted in 2002 and 2005 to evaluate whether households that have suffered the chronic illness...
ABSTRACT Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Directorate of Economics, Republic of Moz... more ABSTRACT Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Directorate of Economics, Republic of Mozambique
High food price instability is one of the major risks facing agricultural households from develop... more High food price instability is one of the major risks facing agricultural households from developing countries. Resulting from agronomic factors as well as the historically low levels of world grain stocks and climate change, increased food price volatility has attracted renewed interest among policy experts in identifying appropriate policy instruments to counter its effects. This paper applies the GARCH model to data from twelve maize markets in Mozambique to estimate price seasonality and volatility. The results reveal the presence of seasonality, and high volatility. There is scope for improving price stability through the use of both market and non-market based price stabilization interventions that encourage investments in market infrastructure such as roads, warehouses and a market information system; institutions such as warehouse receipt system, credit and insurance; maintaining a strategic reserve and reduced tariffs and food-for-work programmes.
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Papers by Jaquelino Massingue