Abstract:
The combination of cultures is an agricultural diversification practice that constitutes an important survival strategy for the majority of the Mozambican population, since it guarantees the minimization of the risks of generalized loss of production. The careful choice of crops is considered to be a major economic decision that has a strong influence on the level of income and food security of the producer. The present study aims to study the main systems of intercropping of basic food crops in the central and northern regions of Mozambique, as well as their change between the years 2008 and 2011. For the purposes of this study, secondary data were used, the TIA 2008 and Partial panel 2011 with national representation. For the description of the data, descriptive statistics were used using the mean and standard deviation, the comparison of the averages between the two years was done at a significance level of 1%, 5% and 10%. For data analysis, a multiple linear regression was estimated using the Stata statistical package, with demographic characteristics such as the gender of the head of the household, educational level, adult equivalent, showing a positive influence on the agronomic yield of corn in kg / hectare. Corn showed higher yield in kg / hectare when combined with butter beans or cowpea and emerging cash crops or fruit vegetables, and also when combined with cassava, peanuts or cowpeas and cash crop crops and agricultural technologies as is the case information on price, use of radio, possession of a tropical animal unit, use of a tractor, pickup truck and truck, use of motor, electric and motorized pumps, production of cotton and tobacco, use of full-time and temporary workers, had a strong influence on the agronomic yield of maize in kg / hectare. The Equivalent Area Ratio (RAE) was also calculated only for combinations of two crops where it was seen that maize / manioc, manioc / peanuts, maize / peanuts and maize / rice are advantageous in relation to monoculture cultivation. (TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)
