Cabbage

The natural conditions in the Study Area are generally favorable for agriculture.  Annual precipitation ranges from 600 to 1,000mm; soil conditions are reasonably good except being susceptible to erosion caused by deforestation and slash-and-burn; and land is plentiful, mostly flat or gently rolling.  A variety of crops, such as maize and various grains, pulses (beans and peas), groundnuts, potatoes, cassava, tobacco, and cotton are grown.  However, most crops can't be cultivated during the dry season from June through October.

Potato

The total area under potato and sweet potato cultivation in the Study Area is over 2,000ha and the average yield is 4.4 tons/ha.  Quality potatoes are produced in Angonia, Tsangano and Macanga in particular and marketed in Tete city and also in other towns even outside the Study Area.  A 3-5kg bag of potatoes is sold for about 1,000 meticals, less than six yen (as of June, 2001)!

Tobacco (1)

Tobacco leaf production in Tete province has been increasing almost explosively in the recent years: 8,000 tons in 2000 and 10,000 tons expected in 2001 (read this for more).  Tobacco is the most important cash crop in the Study Area.  It is cultivated mostly under the contract farming scheme by a Malawian company (see "Tobacco (2)" the next page).  Tobacco cultivation in the area expanded rapidly to reach 2,500ha to produce 1,910 tons in 1998.