The International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) and the Instituto
de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique (IIAM)
successfully concluded a pivotal Product Design Team (PDT) meeting in
Quelimane on June 11, 2025, marking a significant milestone in aligning rice
breeding programs with market demands in Mozambique. The meeting brought
together key stakeholders to define market segments (MS) and target product
profiles (TPPs) for rice, ensuring future varieties meet the needs of farmers,
consumers, and value chains.
Key Outcomes
1. Market Segments Defined for Mozambique
Seven priority
market segments were defined, tailored to Mozambique’s diverse agro-ecologies
and production systems:
- DELF-R: Direct Seeded Rice, Early
maturity duration, Long Slender grain Type, Firm and Rainfed ecosystem (40%
market share).
·
Key
Traits: Yield, Drought
Tolerance, stem borer tolerance.
·
Dominant
Varieties: Nené,
Bebé.
- DMeLF-R: Direct Seeded Rice, Medium
maturity duration, Long Slender grain type, Firm and Rainfed ecosystem (7%
market share).
·
Key
Traits: Yield,
Drought Tolerance, Aroma, Plant Hight, Taste/Flavour.
·
Dominant
Varieties: Simão,
Macassane.
- DLaLF-R: Direct Seeded Rice, Late
maturity duration, Long Slender grain type, Firm and Rainfed ecosystem (14%
market share).
·
Key
Traits: Yield,
Cicle, Plant Hight.
·
Dominant
Varieties: Chupa,
Mucelo, Mamima.
- DELF-I: Direct Seeded Rice, Early
Maturity Cycle, Long and Slender Grain Type, and Irrigated Ecosystem (2.5%
market share).
·
Key
Traits: Yield,
Pest (Locust, Stemborer) and Dieseases (Stem rot, brown spot), Plant Hight,
Tillering..
·
Dominant
Varieties: Nené, Bebé
- TELF-I: Transplant, Early maturity
duration, Long grain Type, Firm and Irrigated cosystem (11% market share).
·
Key
Traits: Yield,
Cicle, Plant Hight.
·
Dominant
Varieties: Tumbeta,
M’ziva.
- TMeLF-I: Transplant, Medium maturity
duration, Long grain type, Firm and Irrigated ecosystem (22.5% market
share).
·
Key
Traits: Aroma,
Long Grain (macassane), Grain Size.
·
Dominant
Varieties: Macassane,
Simão.
- DLaLF-U: Direct-seeded Rice,
Late-maturity, Long slender grain, Firm and Upland ecosystems (3% market share).
The information regarding the key traits and dominant varieties will be
updated in the next PDT Meeting.
2.
Target Product Profiles (TPPs) Aligned with Market Needs
The TPPs emphasize
essential traits for each segment, including: (i) Agronomic: High yield (>3
t/ha), lodging resistance, synchronized tillering; (ii) Quality: Aroma, slender
grain shape, intermediate amylose content; and (iii) Resilience: Tolerance to
floods, drought, and pests (stem borers, blast).
3.
Competitive Varieties Identified
Local and improved
varieties were mapped against the TPPs to identify gaps and opportunities for
breeding. For example: Nené and Bebé dominate DELF-R but require improved blast
tolerance; Macassane excels in industrial yield but needs enhanced aroma for
consumer preference.
Next Steps
The defined Market Segments and Target Product Profiles will guide IRRI and IIAM’s breeding programs, with a focus on: (i)Variety Development: Prioritizing traits like yield, aroma, and climate resilience; (ii) Farmer Engagement: Piloting new varieties in target regions (Zambezia, Sofala, Nampula); and (ii) Policy Advocacy: Harmonizing seed systems to accelerate adoption.
The meeting was attended by the IRRI’s Country Representative in Mozambique Dr. Alexis Ndayiragije, IRRI’s Reseachers based in Mozambique, Representative from (CIMMYT-Kenya) Dr. Lennin Musundire, IIAM Regional Acting Director Eng. Alcídio Vilanculos, IIAM’s Researchers, rice farmers of different production scales, millers and traders.
Number
of Participants by Gender
|
Gender |
Total |
Percentage
(%) |
|
Men |
20 |
77 |
|
Women |
6 |
23 |
|
TOTAL |
26 |
100 |
Reporting: Malissa Doliz Nhandhema; Photos: José Milato.
