A sobrevivência da industria do açúcar em Moçambique com referencia especial a Maragra 1975- 1987

Abstract

In 1964 Maragra-Açucareira appeared in the context of the colonial economy, which soon faced serious problems (financial and production), aggravated by the conjunctural situation of the sugar companies, which spread to the post 1975 period, when the political and economic events on the verge of independence precipitated the flight of qualified technicians and managers. The post 1975 events, as well as during the 1980s, plunged the sugar sector into a financial, structural, functional crisis that affected production and financial income itself. The financial and economic aspect of Maragra was very marked in both periods (colonial and post-colonial), but even more serious in the post-independence period: it was affected by the flight of technicians in charge of the operation of the factory and sugar production; disinvestment of capital and spare equipment; disorganisation and the respective production crisis; state intervention and its implications; growing debt and disinvestment; fixed price policy without respecting the production costs of the company; lack of own capital allied to the weak investment made in the company

These aspects, associated with others (obsolete equipment, low production and stock-outs), perpetuated Maragra's crisis and led it to paralyse its sugar production in 1984/85, a time when efforts to survive intensified. Thus, the company sought to develop, implement and diversify various productive activities to sustain the factory and the workers, in the hope of a short or medium-term recovery. These measures were felt at the level of production and supply of foodstuffs to the workers and family members of the company, the establishment of commercial agreements and even the provision of various services to the town of Manhiça.(TRADUÇAO NOSSA)