Agriculture Warning of late rains: The second half of the rainy season, from January to March, is predicted to have normal to above normal rains, with some possibility of flooding. But for the first half of the rainy season, October through December, the forecast is for below average rains in some areas, according to the Meteorology Institute. This has led the Ministry of Agriculture to suggest that in the south, famers should plant later in the season and use shorter duration crops. (O Pais, 18 September) Cannabis as a cash crop: Cannabis (marijuana) grows well in many parts of Mozambique. It is technically illegal but police have largely ignored its widespread production both for personal use and as a cash crop. So when police confiscated a tonne of cannabis Nanhamba, Mueda, Cabo Delgado on 12 September, local people took action. On 14 September two police were severely beaten and one was taken prisoner by villagers demanding that the cannabis be returned. Cotton and the Zimbabwe free market: Mozambican and Zimbabwean authorities are cooperating to try to stop Mozambican farmers from selling their cotton in Zimbabwe, where the price is much higher. In both countries, cotton is grown on contract to big companies which provide seed and fertiliser on credit, and farmers must sell to that company. In Mozambique the government has agreed to the demands of the transnational cotton companies and given them exclusive rights for entire districts; by contrast Zimbabwe has a free market. The result is that prices paid to producers are much higher in Zimbabwe, so Mozambican farmers want to sell over the border. (Joseph Hanlon)
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 11:21:38 +0000
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