From Ponds to Prosperity: Mozambican Fish Farmers Unite Under UNIDO’s Cooperative Model

In Southern Mozambique, a quiet transformation is reshaping the livelihoods of small-scale aquaculture producers. What was once an informal and fragmented trade has begun to evolve into a structured, cooperative-driven sector, thanks to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and its Market Access of Mozambican Aquaculture Products (MAMAP) project.

Between April and May 2025, three fish farmers’ associations across Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane provinces were formally registered as cooperatives. This development, part of the Global Market Access Programme (GMAP) and funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), has empowered 79 aquaculture producers to strengthen their businesses and gain a foothold in the formal economy.

The newly established Inharrime Fish Farmers’ Cooperative (Coopinhar), Mahanhane Fish Farmers’ Cooperative (CPM), and Boa Vontade Fish Farmers’ Cooperative (CPBV) now enjoy full legal recognition. Their statutes were published in the Official Gazette, and with combined share capital surpassing 780,000 meticais (about 12,200 US dollars), the cooperatives are positioned to access bank financing, secure commercial contracts, and negotiate collectively for better prices.

For small-scale fish farmers, the change has been life altering. António Júnior Maposse, president-elect of CPM in Maputo, recalled the limitations of the past. “Previously, each person sold their fish individually and accepted any price offered,” he said. The cooperative model now allows members to engage in public tenders, collaborate with processing companies, and benefit from government programmes.

The transformation was supported through intensive five-day training sessions on cooperative management, business planning, and legal frameworks. Delivered with participatory methods and local case studies, the training reached 40 women and 39 men. Technical support came from the National Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (IDEPA) and the Mozambican Association for the Promotion of Modern Cooperativism (AMPCM).

A defining feature of this initiative has been women’s leadership. In Gaza, 23 of the 30 members of CPBV are women, with Açucena Rosa Manhique elected as president. “We learned about financial management and production planning. This completely changes our ability to contribute to local development,” she said. Similarly, in Inhambane, Maria Clara, president of Coopinhar, emphasised the benefits of legal recognition. “We’ve wanted to organise ourselves better for a long time, but we didn’t know how. With the support of the MAMAP project and IDEPA, we finally understand the benefits of working as a cooperative. We now have a legal structure that allows us to access credit and negotiate better prices for our production.”

Looking ahead, the cooperatives are preparing to expand into supermarkets, restaurants and formal markets. By pooling resources, members will also benefit from economies of scale in purchasing inputs. IDEPA has pledged continued technical support, including help with licensing and initial provision of production kits for Gaza and Maputo cooperatives.

Mozambique has the capacity to produce up to four million tonnes of fish each year, but current production remains far below this potential. Cooperative organisation offers a pathway to bridge this gap while enhancing food security, creating jobs, and driving rural development. The success of these three cooperatives illustrates how targeted support, legal frameworks, and training can turn subsistence aquaculture into viable and sustainable businesses.

As the MAMAP project continues its work to consolidate Mozambique’s aquaculture value chain, these cooperatives stand as a model for what is possible. Their stories offer inspiration not only for other producers across the country but also for wider efforts to ensure that aquaculture contributes meaningfully to economic growth and community wellbeing.

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