The influence of large-scale investments in agricultural land on household food security in the Gurué and Monapo districts of Mozambique

Empirical evidence of the impact of large-scale land transfers on household food security is scarce in Africa. Large-scale agricultural investments have the potential to achieve long-term development objectives such as improving access to markets and technology, scaling up physical infrastructure and providing improved opportunities for employment. At times, these investments occur at the expense of rural communities. Displacement and environmental degradation can occur eroding local development. This study investigated the effect of large-scale agricultural investments on food security in the Monapo and Gurué districts of Mozambique as part of a larger project called AFGROLAND that set out to improve the understanding of how changes in the global agricultural, food and energy system affect countries in Africa. The study used both descriptive and statistical models. The sample of 504 households included households (i) in which at least one member was employed by the large-scale investment agent in the areas selected for the study (ii) households in the same area that were not employed by the agribusiness (termed non-engaged households) and (iii) counterfactual households from another community without a large-scale investment. The study made use of seven food security indicators. These were compared and evaluated through the use of Principle Component Analysis. Although a third of households in the factual zones reported having lost land through displacement because of plantation expansion, severe hunger and food insecurity were not commonly observed from the assessment of the seven indicators. Employed households reported better dietary quality (measured as Household Dietary Diversity Score, Food Consumption Score and Women’s Dietary Diversity Score), food security (measured as the Consolidated Approach for Reporting Indicators of Food Security), and resilience in terms of food security (measured as Coping Strategy Index, Monthly Adequate Household Food Provision and Asset ownership ). Overall, the counterfactual households had better dietary quality than non-engaged households in the factual zones. In the case of female-headed households, the dietary quality was worse among employed households as women had less time to gather firewood and prepare food. The study concluded that large-scale agricultural investments may provide employment opportunities in remote areas and improve household food security. It is not possible to draw concrete conclusions on whether the large-scale agricultural investments had a negative effect on household food security as the results could be influenced by a number of factors inclusive of climate change, soil quality and gradient, in addition to human factors such as infrastructure development, health and sanitation. However, policymakers and investors should insist on employment quotas for women when providing access to employment. Food security concerns should remain a key consideration for government assessment of investment opportunities with appropriate policy measures implemented to minimize the risks to households’ food security and livelihoods (such as lost access to land and environmental degradation). Monitoring and evaluation of the impacts of large-scale agricultural investments should be conducted.