Beira Agricultural Growth Corridor
The district of Nhamatanda encompasses two administrative posts, Nhamatanda-sede and Tica, each exhibiting distinct climatic patterns
The eastern region is classified as tropical rainy savannah climate, while the western region is classified as humid temperate tropical with an average annual rainfall of 1200 mm. The area fosters favorable conditions for agricultural activities because of the soils rich in organic matter and high water retention capacity.
Agriculture serves as the primary economic driver, predominantly conducted under rainfed conditions. Small family farms dot the landscape, engaging in manual cultivation practices, often intercropping varieties such as corn, cassava, mapira, beans, sweet potatoes, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sesame, and soybeans. Large-scale monoculture cultivation of crops like sugarcane and cotton is more common in the administrative post of Tica.
The post of Tica intersects the Beira Corridor (Beira Agricultural Growth Corridor-BAGC), a critical transport route in southern Africa. Consequently, areas traversed by this corridor witness heightened agricultural activity, amplifying the need for sustainable land management practices.
Monitoring agricultural intensification in the Nhamatanda districts
Population growth in the Nhamatanda is driving increased demand for natural resources. Agriculture is characterized by smallholder farms cultivating key global staple crops—such as maize, soybeans, rice, and sorghum—and large commercial operations focused on sugarcane production. Nhamatanda District lies within the Beira Agricultural Growth Corridor, where commercial agricultural activities are expected to expand.
The key elements of the HANPP (Human Appropriation of Net Primary Production) framework can be used to evaluate both the intensity of biomass harvest and the efficiency of resource use:
- HANPPharv and HANPPluc serve as indicators of agricultural expansion. An increase in HANPPharv suggests a higher proportion of biomass is being extracted through cropping activities.
- HANPPluc reflects productivity losses, for example, when farmland expands into woodland areas. Productivity can be evaluated by comparing actual harvest levels to potential yields and identifying underperforming agricultural plots.
- The HANPP efficiency ratio (HANPPharv:HANPP) helps assess how much harvested biomass is obtained relative to the overall productivity loss, offering insight into the efficiency of land use practices.
References
- Fetzel, T., Niedertscheider, M., Haberl, H., Krausmann, F., & Erb, K.-H. (2016). Patterns and changes of land use and land-use efficiency in Africa 1980–2005: An analysis based on the human appropriation of net primary production framework. Regional Environmental Change, 16(5), 1507–1520.DOI
