http://www.repositorio.uem.mz/handle258/61 2026-04-23T07:08:56Z 2026-04-23T07:08:56Z Immaculate, Adongo http://www.repositorio.uem.mz/handle258/1579 2026-03-05T09:59:22Z 2025-02-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Drivers of irrigation technology adoption and impact on maize productivity among smallholder farmers in Mozambique Authors: Immaculate, Adongo Abstract: Irrigation stands as a cornerstone of agriculture that can improve crop productivity supporting food security, and poverty alleviation, especially against surging populations and shifting climates. However, the diffusion of irrigation technologies among small-scale cultivators in Mozambique is very low, swayed by factors that affect the farmers’ capacity to implement them. This research analyzed the on-farm, socio-economic and institutional drivers of irrigation technology uptake and impact on maize productivity among smallholder farmers in Mozambique. Using secondary data from the 2023 Agricultural and Livestock Survey (IAI 2023), the study used Logit regression model to establish the key drivers of irrigation uptake, while propensity score matching (PSM) via nearest-neighbor estimation quantified the causal effect of adoption on productivity. Results revealed 20% maize farmers in Mozambique adopted irrigation technology, where majority 25.1% of these adopters were located in Maputo province, 6% in Gaza and 8% in Inhambane province. Household size, education, extension access, size of the farm, credit access and location positively influence the probability of irrigation technology adoption. On the other hand, off -farm income negatively influenced the decision to take up irrigation. The average treatment effect estimated on the treated (ATE) demonstrated that irrigation adoption increased maize productivity for the adopters of irrigation technology by 590.41kg/ha. The findings reaffirm irrigation’s contribution to food security and improving household income, and offers insights for policy formulation. Further, there is need to improve credit access by the government and redesign credit schemes that tailor agricultural credit products

2025-02-01T00:00:00Z Zandamela, Nilton P. http://www.repositorio.uem.mz/handle258/1578 2026-03-03T12:01:26Z 2025-06-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Valoração financeira de espécies arbóreas comerciais e sequestro de carbono na Floresta Comunitária de Mudzo, província da Zambézia Authors: Zandamela, Nilton P. Abstract: O presente estudo teve como objectivo valorar financeiramente as espécies arbóreas comerciais e sequestro de carbono na Floresta Comunitária de Mudzo, localizada nos distritos de Maganja da Costa e Mocubela, província da Zambézia, integrando os benefícios de uso directo (exploração de espécies arbóreas comerciais) e de uso indirecto (sequestro de carbono). Para tal, foi conduzido um inventário florestal utilizando amostragem estratificada aleatória por aglomerados com uma intensidade amostral de 0,1 %, cobrindo 152 parcelas de 100 × 20 m, em que se mediram todas as árvores com DAP ≥ 20 cm. A regeneração foi avaliada em subparcelas de 20 × 20 m. A análise da estrutura horizontal recorreu a parâmetros fitossociológicos (abundância, dominância, frequência, IVI) e a índices de diversidade florística (Shannon-Wiener e Simpson). Os volumes total e comercial foram estimados, e o volume das espécies não comerciais foi convertido em biomassa aérea com base numa densidade média de 0,71 t/m3 e num factor de expansão de 1,74. A biomassa obtida foi posteriormente transformada em carbono, utilizando um coeficiente de conversão de 0,50. A valoração financeira foi realizada pelo Método do Valor Actual Líquido (VAL), considerando um horizonte temporal de 20 anos e uma taxa de desconto de 12 %, complementada por uma análise de sensibilidade a diferentes cenários de preços da madeira. Os resultados revelam que a floresta produtiva (37.895,12 ha) é dominada por vegetação de Miombo (76,8 %), com uma diversidade moderada (H’ = 3,53; J’ = 0,77). As espécies Brachystegia spiciformis, B. boehmii e Julbernardia globiflora concentram mais de 85 % do volume explorável, compondo o núcleo das 13 espécies comerciais identificadas. O Corte Anual Admissível foi calculado em 10.691,6 m3/ano. A biomassa aérea das espécies não comerciais totalizou 560.882,78 t, equivalentes a 280.441,39 t de carbono. Considerando o preço médio do mercado voluntário (14,60 USD/tCO2), o valor estimado do carbono sequestrado ascende a 4,10 milhões de USD. O Valor Actual Líquido (VAL) da exploração madeireira foi de 19,40 milhões de USD, e, somado ao valor do carbono, o activo florestal totaliza 23,49 milhões de USD. Todos os cenários testados mantiveram o VAL positivo, embora se tenha verificado uma sensibilidade significativa ao preço da madeira e à taxa de desconto. Estes dados evidenciam o potencial económico e ecológico da floresta, justificando a adopção de quotas por espécie, programas de enriquecimento silvícola e instrumentos de Pagamento por Serviços Ambientais como estratégias para garantir uma gestão comunitária sustentável e financeiramente viável

2025-06-01T00:00:00Z Nkhoma, Rebecca http://www.repositorio.uem.mz/handle258/1576 2026-03-03T12:00:59Z 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Effects of affordable inputs program on food poverty alleviation among smallholder farmers in Malawi Authors: Nkhoma, Rebecca Abstract: Malawi’s Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) aims to enhance smallholder productivity and food security by providing subsidized access to fertilizer and improved seeds, thereby reducing poverty among farming households. Despite its national importance, evidence on its effectiveness in reducing household food poverty remains mixed due to persistent concerns about targeting accuracy, inclusivity, and household vulnerability to climatic shocks. Using nationally representative data of 7,804 agricultural households from the Fifth Integrated Household Survey (IHS5), we apply the control function (CF) approach to address endogeneity in subsidy participation and estimate the programme’s causal impact on food poverty. Descriptive results show that AIP beneficiaries are more likely to be female-headed, widowed, and rural households, and tend to have relatively greater access to extension services, land, and livestock assets, with patterns indicating that only the complete AIP package is associated with noticeable improvements in poverty outcomes. The control function estimates reveal that each additional coupon reduces the probability of being food poor by 16.3 percent and lowers the food poverty gap by 6.1 percent, suggesting meaningful but moderate improvements in household food welfare. In addition, factors such as higher education, employment, access to credit, business ownership, livestock holdings, and urban residence significantly improve household welfare. Overall, the study highlights the need to strengthen targeting by also considering the educated and the youth, and complement the AIP with credit access, education, and climate-resilient support to maximize its contribution to sustainable food security in Malawi

2025-12-01T00:00:00Z Apio, Deborah http://www.repositorio.uem.mz/handle258/1574 2026-03-03T12:00:10Z 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Efficacy of local food baits in fruit fly management and estimation of infestation indices of fruit flies in guavas in Maputo, Mozambique Authors: Apio, Deborah Abstract: Fruit flies (Diptera:Tephritidae) are serious pests of crops, requiring effective monitoring tools to guide management. This study evaluated the attractiveness of local food baits for monitoring fruit flies in guava orchards in Maputo Province. Additionally, the study assessed guava infestation levels, examined the relationship between trap catches and adult emergence from fruits, and analyzed how climate variables and fruit availability influence fruit fly population density. A randomized block design with four treatments (palm sap, molasses, torula yeast, and water) and four replications was used. Four trees per block were randomly assigned baited Tephri traps, which were inspected weekly. Collected flies were counted, sexed, and identified. Simultaneously, guava fruits from trees and the ground were sampled weekly, incubated, and examined for pupal and adult emergence to estimate infestation indices. Three genera were trapped: Bactrocera, Dacus, and Ceratitis, with Bactrocera dorsalis dominant (90.37%). Torula was the most attractive bait (FTD = 4.15±0.804), followed by palm sap, with no statistical difference. Molasses and water were least effective. Fruit fly population fluctuations were strongly linked to fruit availability and temperature. Guava fruits exhibited high infestation, averaging 245.06±16.10 pupae/kg and 208.46±13.34 adults/kg. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.652, p = 0.0297) was found between trapped B. dorsalis and emerged adults, with regression analysis showing trap catches explained 42.5% of emergence variation suggesting that factors external to the orchard have a greater influence on infestation. Overall, the results showed that palm sap is a promising, low-cost alternative bait, and highlighted the importance of orchard sanitation as well as the need to consider area wide fruit fly management strategies in order to reduce infestation

2025-12-01T00:00:00Z