Regressados, deslocados e resistentes: estudo comparativo dos sistemas de produção agropecuária em três zonas ecológicas no distrito de Cahora Bassa

Abstract

This work is the result of basic research carried out by a multidisciplinary team in the district of Cahora Bassa, the result of a collaboration between the Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering and the Rural Development project of Chitima, implemented by FOS-Belgium. The team consisted of four final year students, three from the Vegetal Production and Protection department and one from the forestry department, covering four distinct areas: production systems, credit, market and forests. The main objective of the research was to carry out a description of the production systems in the three distinct ecological zones of the district, in the plains with lowlands, in the mountains with valleys and plateaus. The research had three different phases with regard to methodology. The first was the preparation phase. The second phase was the field activities comprising three sub-phases: the multidisciplinary, the specific sub-phase and the replacement. The third phase corresponds to the definitive analysis of the data at the Faculty. From the study carried out, some differences were identified in the production systems between the high zones (plateaus and mountains) and the low ones (plains), with regard to the production of fruit trees and tobacco that showed tendencies to be produced in the high zones. The time of use refers to the production of fruit trees and tobacco that showed tendencies to be produced in high areas. The time of use of the fields without fallow is relatively reduced in the high areas (4-5 years) due to the loss of fertility. The weak use of animal traction for transport in the highlands due to the topography and the production of sweet potato in the lowlands. In terms of population categories, resistant (those who did not move during the last war) and displaced people (not because of the last war) were considered those who had possession and easy access to resources, particularly with regard to cattle herd. (including draft animals), goats and other species, size and quality of cultivation areas, labor etc. Within the category of returnees, most were in a phase of reintegration, but in the lowland area there were two groups, one that had taken refuge within the country (Chitima or in the highlands), and some brought their animals with them in particular cattle. , and another in neighboring Zimbabwe. Those in the highlands all came from neighboring Zimbabwe and for fear of losing the approaching agricultural season, they opted to open their fields due to the scarcity of the lowlands in these areas (plateaus and mountains). It was concluded that within the population categories the category of returnees coming from outside the country were considered the ones with the least access to resources.