Total grain production in Mozambique increased from 1.4 million tonnes in 2000 to 1.8 million tonnes in 2003, according to Prime Minister Luisa Diogo.
She was speaking in the northern city of Nampula on Thursday, when she presented the Central Committee of the ruling Frelimo Party with a preliminary balance-sheet on the implementation of the government's five year programme (2000- 2004).
As for livestock, Diogo said that from 2000 up to now, the government's restocking programme has involved the distribution to farmers of 14,000 head of cattle and 46,000 goats.
The Prime Minister's report, summarised in Friday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias", also stressed major advances in education and health. The number of first level primary schools (teaching grades one to five) rose from 6,692 in 1999 to 8,071 in 2003. The rate of illiteracy had fallen from 60.5 per cent in 2000 to 53.6 per cent in 2003.
During this government's term of office, she continued, 51 new health centres were built, and 60 existing units (including general, provincial and rural hospitals) were expanded. In terms of medical staff, 48 specialist doctors were trained, 759 mid- level health technicians, and 2,386 basic technicians.
Perhaps the most important achievement of the health service was to keep more children alive. Diogo said that infant mortality has fallen from 135 per 1,000 live births in 1997 to 125 per 1,000 last year.
President Joaquim Chissano, chairing the meeting in his capacity as President of Frelimo, said that, while the government was to be applauded for its successes, the Mozambican people remained extremely poor.
"We recognise and value the successes we have achieved", he said. "But it is more important that we coolly diagnose the real situation of the country and of our programmes so that we know how to lead our people in the struggle for the definitive eradication of poverty".
He warned members of the government not to be overcome by joy at what had been achieved. Rather, they should look ahead at what still had to be done, and map out the route for doing it "and for doing it well".
Fonte: AIM
