Planting Seeds of Change—and Jobs—in Mozambique’s Farming Communities

Every now and then, you meet someone who completely shifts your perspective. For me, that someone is Lidia Calcao.

I met Lidia in a small village called Mudima Sede in Cafumpe, tucked away in the Gondola district of Mozambique’s Manica Province. She’s 37, full of energy, and the kind of woman who doesn’t wait for opportunities—she creates them. And let me tell you, what she’s doing in her community is nothing short of transformational.

Lidia used to be like many farmers in her village—stuck in subsistence farming, trapped in a cycle of low productivity and deep poverty. She didn’t have access to quality inputs (i.e. seeds, fertilizer) or markets. Infrastructure was poor, and mentors were non-existent. But even in that environment, Lidia held onto a dream: to become a semi-commercial farmer who could lift others along the way.

And in 2018, she realized the future starts here and took her first bold step.

She brought together 25 farmers in her community—people who shared her desire to improve, learn, and grow. Together, they formed a group, and something amazing started to happen. They began sharing ideas, talking about the challenges they faced, and brainstorming ways to link up with markets and extension services. Slowly but surely, they became a little engine of change.

And guess what? People started to notice.

In 2022, Lidia’s efforts caught the attention of Luteari, a local agribusiness that supports smallholder farmers with technical assistance, access to inputs, and market connections. Luteari had been scaling up their operations with the help of matching grants through the World Bank-funded Mozambique Agriculture and Natural Resource Landscape Project. They had built a network of 21 agent centers across Manica and Sofala Provinces, reaching over 23,000 farmers—70% of them women, and 58% youth.

Lidia was just the kind of changemaker they were looking for.

Today, Lidia is a village-based agent for Luteari, and she’s doing incredible work. She supports 210 farmers in her village—118 of them women, and 91 youth. Her small facility acts as a one-stop shop: she sells certified inputs, aggregates produce, offers training, and most importantly, provides a space where farmers can come together, learn, and share.

And it’s working.

Farmers now have access to better seeds and fertilizers. They’re selling their produce at good prices, because Lidia negotiates on their behalf and connects them directly to Luteari. There’s more crop variety, better yields, and less food insecurity. The entire village is buzzing with activity—new businesses are popping up: motorbike taxis, small grocery shops, milling services, even e-wallet agents. It’s like watching a rural economy spring to life in real time.

Lidia earns a 10% commission on the inputs she sells and the produce she helps market. But for her, it’s about more than the income. It’s about dignity, empowerment, and the ripple effect of helping others succeed.

Here’s what I’ve learned from watching Lidia in action:

1. When the private sector meets community leadership, magic happens. Luteari’s model of using village-based agents shows how sustainable agriculture can be built from the ground up—with real impact on productivity and livelihoods.
2. Infrastructure is a game-changer. That little building in Lidia’s village isn’t just a shop—it’s a hub for knowledge, for connection, and for opportunity.
3. Farmers are stronger together. Collective action has given them bargaining power, easier access to services, a louder voice, and more chances to succeed.
4. Smart financing unlocks big potential. Matching grants gave Luteari the boost it needed to scale up and invest in communities. The return? A thriving business and empowered farmers.

Even though the World Bank project officially wrapped up in 2023, the momentum is continuing. In fact, it’s accelerating. Lidia’s success, and others like her, is drawing in more development partners. Village-based agents are evolving into micro-enterprises. Farmer incomes are up by over 40%. Luteari has created more than 90 jobs and is planning to expand operations fivefold, with serious goals around processing and exports.

Meeting Lidia reminded me that real change doesn’t always come from the top—it often starts with one brave person in a small village, dreaming big and doing the work.

If that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what is.