Me and Bernardo Armando

After writing a blog post last week about the need for Mozambicans to produce agricultural products locally in order to lessen their dependence on South African agriculture, bring down food prices and eat fresh food I found a local hero. Yesterday I spent the better part of an hour on Bernardo Armando’s agricultural plot. Bernardo produces potatoes, corn, two varietals of cucumbers and peppers. All of his inputs are organic, even his insecticides which he is currently testing as a pilot with the Mozambican institute of agricultural investigation. He is part of a collective of 194 farmers that together, with help of the Italian government, have created a sound irrigation system that stems from the Boane river.

At the end of my visit Bernardo gifted me several ears of corn and a handful of cucumbers. Later in the evening we grilled up the corn and used the cucumbers in a salad. It was by far the most tasty and satisfying meal I have had in Mozambique.

This is another farmer I met, not as cool as Bernardo, but I like this picture