Análise da VEC da produção de hortícolas na província de Maputo

Abstract

The study of comparative economic advantage is important as it can help define policies on how to guide production systems towards more economically efficient activities. Comparative economic advantage also allows for the analysis of three types of problems: dependence on imports, availability or lack of foreign exchange, and distortion of markets. The present study was limited to the analysis of market distortion and the dependence of markets on imports. The general objective of the study was to analyze the comparative economic advantage of horticultural production in Maputo province. The vegetables considered in the study were lettuce, cabbage, cabbage and tomato. The selection criteria for these crops were as follows: the eating habits of consumers in Maputo, the demand for these products in the main urban shopping centers and their weight in the production and market structure of the province of Maputo. The specific objectives of the study were: (i) to estimate the indicators of comparative economic advantage and (ii) to estimate the degree of protection and distortion of policies. As a study method, the policy analysis matrix (PAM) was used, which allows the calculation of indicators of comparative economic advantage and the degree of protection and distortion of the markets due to the policies adopted in the country. To determine the indicators, partial budgets for the crops under study were drawn up considering two technologies (potential and used). The potential technology was associated with commercial farmers while the one used was associated with subsistence farmers. The results showed that all cultures and technologies studied have a comparative economic advantage and that there is a certain implicit subsidy in their production. Tomato was the crop that had the greatest comparative economic advantage and the highest incidence of subsidy, as opposed to lettuce, which had the lowest comparative economic advantage for both technologies. The study recommends the promotion of tomato crop production as it has the greatest comparative economic advantage and the improvement of production systems for crops with less advantage.