Arabfields, Luanda, Angola — Angola, a country rich in natural resources and blessed with fertile soils, faces a major paradox: despite its immense agricultural potential, it still relies heavily on food imports. In 2022, the country spent about $3 billion on importing food, an economic burden that weighs on its development. Confronted with this reality, the country’s largest food producer, the family-owned Carrinho Group, is leading a quiet but ambitious revolution. By closely collaborating with thousands of family farmers, Carrinho aims to boost agricultural yields and reduce the country’s dependence on imports, transforming Angola into a self-sufficient agro-food hub.
Founded as an Angolan family business, the Carrinho Group has established itself as the undisputed leader in the country’s food sector. Specializing in vertically integrated production, from cultivation to industrial processing, the group operates from state-of-the-art factories, including a “food park” considered one of the most advanced in the world. Based in Lobito, in Benguela province, Carrinho produces cereals, flours, and other essential products, feeding nearly half of Angola’s population.But Carrinho’s success does not rest solely on its high-tech facilities. On the contrary, it is rooted in a strategic partnership with family farmers, who form the backbone of Angola’s agriculture. According to estimates, these smallholders represent 99.8% of the country’s agricultural units and contribute to more than 80% of national production. In Cabinda province, for example, 97% of agricultural products consumed come from these family farms. “We cannot ignore this vital force,” explains a Carrinho spokesperson. “Our mission is to equip them to produce more and better.”
Launched two years ago, Carrinho Agri’s “Family Farming Incentive” program, the agricultural arm of the group, perfectly illustrates this vision. To date, more than 150,000 family farmers cultivate over 90,000 hectares of land in the provinces of Benguela, Huíla, Huambo, Bié, and Moxico. The group aims to extend this support to over a million farmers in the coming years, providing quality seeds, technical training, and direct access to markets.In practice, Carrinho purchases maize and other cereal production directly from these farmers, ensuring stable income and encouraging investments in sustainable practices. In 2024, the program enabled the purchase of thousands of tons of maize, boosting local production and reducing import needs. Partnerships like the one forged with ADPP Angola (Actions for the Development of Peoples and Provinces) further strengthen this momentum. Together, they train over 12,000 women farmers, focusing on agroecology and economic empowerment.These efforts are bearing fruit. Yields have increased significantly: a hectare cultivated with inputs provided by Carrinho can produce up to 100 quintals of maize, compared to 20 to 30 quintals previously. The result? The group has already reached an annual production of 100,000 tons of cereals, from both family farms and large-scale operations.
Despite these advances, challenges remain. Angola has 57.4 million hectares of arable land, but only a fraction is exploited due to the aftermath of the civil war, climate change, and a lack of infrastructure. Imports of staple products like rice, wheat, and vegetables persist, posing a risk to the food security of a growing population.However, initiatives like those of Carrinho, supported by international institutions such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC), are paving the way for economic diversification. The Angolan government, through its National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS), emphasizes family agriculture to achieve self-sufficiency.By connecting isolated farms to modern factories, Carrinho is not just producing food: it is weaving a resilient ecosystem. As the group’s slogan sums it up, “Feeding Angola’s future.” If this momentum continues, the country could not only reduce its imports by billions of dollars but also become a regional exporter, turning its fields into engines of prosperity.
