O regadio de Mafuiane - contexto, impacto . sócio - económico sobre o sector familiar, 1993-2003

Abstract

The Mafuiane Irrigation Scheme was installed in response to the emergency situation created by drought and war, in the hope of increasing the income of the peasant families of the village. The present study analyses the socio-economic impact of the irrigation scheme on the peasant families, culturally accustomed to rainfed agriculture. The irrigation infrastructure was installed by a Mozambican/Italian project (PRORURAL/PDRI), which ran from 1992/3 to 1997. During this period, farmers benefited from the subsidized distribution of agricultural inputs, credits and extension services carried out by the purpose-built Casa Agrária. With the end of the project in 1997, the management of the irrigation scheme was entrusted to the Mafuiane Irrigators Association. This became responsible for the maintenance and conservation of the irrigated area and for guaranteeing the continuity of agricultural production. Accustomed to the subsidies granted by the project, and because the majority of peasant families were characterized by a high economic weakness, they could not properly pay the water rates, which led to the economic debility of the Association. With the difficulties verified within the irrigated area, the Association began to confiscate the plots of land from peasant debtors, or these proceeded to transfer the plots to more capable peasants, often from outside the rural context of the region. The loss of plots by the pioneers of the irrigation system culminated in their salaried status, a situation that had immediate effects: signs of deterioration of the irrigation infrastructures, since they were already focusing their attention on the dryland farm or other extra-agricultural activities.