As the sun rises over the Limpopo River in Mozambique’s Gaza Province, farmers like Gerson Joao reap the rewards of their labor in golden rice fields. Gerson, who partners with Wanbao, a Chinese-invested modern rice farm, earns enough from his 2.7-hectare plot to send his children to college. Wanbao, launched in 2011 and supported by the China-Africa Development Fund, spans 20,000 hectares, producing 16,000 tons of rice annually. Its cooperative model provides local farmers with land, seeds, training, and financial support in exchange for harvests, boosting yields from 1–2 tons to 5–7 tons per hectare.
Farmers like Angelica Mavuie have transformed their lives through the project. A widow and mother, Angelica began with one hectare and now earns over 130,000 meticais annually, enabling her to complete home construction and improve her family’s living conditions. Village leaders praise Wanbao’s commitment, recalling how Chinese staff worked tirelessly during floods to save crops and educate farmers using patient, hands-on methods.
Wanbao has introduced high-yield rice varieties and modern farming techniques while collaborating with local experts. Many farmers have become self-sufficient in managing production and sales. The farm employs 156 full-time locals and over 1,000 seasonal workers, and has trained over 2,000 agricultural workers. Supplying 12,000–15,000 tons of rice annually—about 6% of Mozambique’s output—Wanbao enhances national food security in a country heavily reliant on imports. As village chief Fabiao Matsolo noted, “With Wanbao here, we won’t go hungry.”
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