Efeito da cultura do algodão na produção de culturas alimentares e segurança alimentar: O caso de Inhangoma-Muturara

Abstract

Since 1993, the Mozambican agrarian sector has been recovering, thanks to the national agrarian political stability adopted by the government. These actions have led to the repopulation of rural areas by the population, and the consequent increase in the production of the main food and cash crops, which translate into improvements in the food situation and in the balance of payments. It is within the scope of the development of the agrarian sector, whose main actor is the family farmer and with the reintroduction of cotton cultivation in the production of food crops and food security. The analysis considered the soxip-demographic characteristics and some household food security indicators, factors that influence the productivity and profitability of the main crops. Three methods were used for the analysis: (1) descriptive statistics and hypothesis tests; (2) the multiple regression and (3) the cultural budgets method. The results obtained show that the introduction of cotton cultivation is not harming food crops, in terms of area and pure maize yield, since the two groups of families (cotton producers and non-producers) do not present significant differences. . The potential available labor is the largest in families that produce cotton and can be a condition for the adoption of cotton. As the introduction is not harming food crops in terms of area, combined with non-significant differences in pure maize yield, and considering the total available area and physical assets, which are greater in cotton-producing households, then it can if it is said that cotton is providing the well-being of these families