In Mozambique, more than 80 per cent of poor households live in rural areas. Farming is their main source of food and income, however usually farmers can only produce enough to meet their households' basic food requirements.

Oxfam has worked in Mozambique more than 20 years. Initially Oxfam focused on emergency relief projects in areas that were affected by the civil war. Since the end of the war, Oxfam’s work has concentrated aiding recovery from the civil war and long-term development.

The HIV and AIDS epidemic is becoming more and more prevalent in rural Mozambique. The increase of HIV and Aids is a direct threat on the food security and community stability within the rural communities. The project that Oxfam Japan is involved in helps communities in rural Mozambique maintain sustainable food production, while also responding to the increasing HIV and AIDS epidemic.

In Inhambne Province, where the Oxfam Japan project is based, the agricultural productivity is even lower than other areas as a result of the frequent and persistent droughts.

The project aims to strengthen agricultural production within the local communities by using local systems and techniques that are easy to access and carry out for the small farmers.