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Collective action

Several narrators, particularly women, speak about the central role of cooperatives in their lives. Jorgina vividly remembers her perilous existence during the civil war. It was then (1977) that she joined a cooperative, which 30 years later still enables her to “alleviate my poverty”. Through her membership she has also received help with livestock, which “work the field for my survival”. Others mention assistance with fertilisers and seeds.

Cooperatives are formed by individuals deciding to join forces, and do not have to be legally registered; organizações de camponeses can be made up of individuals or groups of people who formally identify themselves with the organizações’ constitution. Narrators speak positively and at length about these organizações, which are supported by UNAC (União Nacional de Camponeses), the national small farmers’ movement.

Ucilina explains that they were encouraged to form cooperatives and organizações de camponeses “through the FRELIMO government’s awareness campaign after independence”. Her group are planning to set up their own market, “which would help us a lot, because then it would be us fixing the prices”. She also says that UNAC has “been supporting us in terms of oxen for animal traction, and cattle re-stocking”.

Pedro, who introduces himself as “a camponês, and a son of a camponês”, is a field official and national trainer for UNAC. He is aware that young people who have benefited from some education are developing a different attitude to working on the land and prefer jobs in cities. Yet, he says, “with such a rich land as ours, how can people ignore agriculture?”

His work with UNAC has included creating drama groups and using song to teach young people “the importance of agriculture”, to convey information to illiterate farmers, and to raise awareness about land rights.

Project

Collective action is a key theme of the Living with poverty: Mozambique oral testimony project.

Testimonies

Amélia: women are leaders

Antonio: collective responsibility

Arnaldo: teachers sell marks

Boafesta: cattle are hope

Gomes: working with youth

Jorgina: the value of cooperatives

Maria: totally forgotten

Pamira: great suffering

Pedro: importance of agriculture

Raquelina: only me

Rafael: worth nothing

Ucilina: living from agriculture

Key themes

Infrastructure

Conservation conflicts

Collective action

Overview

Infrastructure

Introduction

Collective action

Livelihood and migration

Support for development

Conservation conflicts

Family

Farming

Education

Health

Conflict

Women’s status

Poverty

Trade and economics