Mozambique | Gorongosa Park promotes chili pepper as a source of income for families

A group of 245 producers in central Mozambique is involved in a chili pepper cultivation project linked to Gorongosa National Park, which aims to generate extra sources of income for rural families. According to the conservation area, the 245 producers of this crop are spread across 45 communities in the districts of Gorongosa, Nhamatanda, Muanza, Cheringoma, and Maríngue, in Sofala province, central region, cultivating a total area of 28 hectares. “With access to certified seeds, technical assistance, irrigation, and guaranteed markets, farmers increase productivity, reduce economic risks, and strengthen their families’ financial security,” it highlights.

Gorongosa estimates that crop production has reached 5.1 tons of chili pepper since January. Through 2025, farmers involved in the project received a total of 7,510 dollars (6,568 euros) from the sale of six tons of fresh chili pepper. The initiative currently works with two crop varieties, designated “Bird’s Eye” (Olho-de-pássaro) and “Long Cayenne” (Cayenne longa), supplying farmers with certified seeds, technical assistance, irrigation systems, and market access.

One of the key aspects highlighted by the park is the use of chili pepper as an instrument to mitigate human-elephant conflict, one of the primary challenges faced by farmers living in areas adjacent to the park. According to the document, the sensitivity of these animals to capsaicin—the substance responsible for the fruit’s spicy taste—allows the crop to be used as a natural barrier to discourage elephants from entering agricultural fields. The initiative further advocates the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, presented as a way to restore soil fertility, conserve water, reduce erosion, and bolster rural communities’ resilience to climate change.

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The chili pepper produced by Gorongosa farmers is marketed under the brand “A Nossa Gorongosa” (Our Gorongosa) in the form of sweet sauce, hot sauce, and flakes, available across the country’s provincial capitals. The project also created five jobs at the local processing facility, held by three women and two men.

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