Gestão integrada dos recursos hídricos em Moçambique: caso da bacia hidrográfica do rio Licungo

Abstract

This report is the culmination of an investigation within the scope of the Degree Work in Geography entitled "Integrated Management of Water Resources in Mozambique: The case of the Licungo River basin", which aims to develop, on the one hand, a study on availability, demand and water quality in the basin, as well as evaluating the implications of water resources on territorial development and, on the other hand, identifying the main problems related to basin management. This approach arises from the need to seek appropriate measures within the scope of the sustainable use of water resources. The Licungo river basin drains an area of ​​22 800 km2, with an approximate length of 343 km and its perimeter is about 798 km. Based on this study, the basin has an average flow of 6 533.80 Mm3/ year and a consumption for the various uses of 2,775.90 Mm3/year about 42% of the basin's total runoff, which means that it has a sufficient amount of water, and it is expected that by the year 2015, the water needs for the various purposes is 3 600.90 Mm3/year about 55%, and in terms of water quality, there is a significant change in water quality standards. In recent years, with the development of irrigated agriculture in Nante, the use of agrochemicals has been verified, in addition to the diverse activities of the population throughout the basin, which contributes to the increase in water quality degradation, examples of which are the increase in coliforms faecal and totals mainly in the cities of Gurue and Mocuba. Furthermore, there has been a continuous process of erosion due to the practice of agriculture and settlement of the population along the banks. One of the major problems in basin management is related to the collection of hydrological data which is deficient due to the lack of adequate equipment, transport and funds for the maintenance of the hydroclimatological network, monitoring of water quality and environmental issues, in addition to the lack of articulation between the different actors that interfere in the management. From the survey carried out, it was found that the consumers of the existing supply network in Mocuba and Gurue find the water tariff too high, resulting, in some cases, in non-payment of consumption. Another aspect observed is the non-payment of water by other users, such as the cases of the Tea Processing Units in the district of Gurue and the users of the irrigation system in Nante. The non-implementation and functioning of an institution (ARA-Centro-Norte) constitutes a major constraint in the process of management, regulation and monitoring of its various uses. The Licungo river basin can play a very important role in economic and social development in the province, as it has great potential for agriculture, livestock and tourism.(TRADUÇÁO NOSSA)