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Abstract
The Beira Corridor of Mozambique is a natural transport
corridor between the coast and neighbouring inland
countries in the region. It is rich in resources, with very
large reserves of coal and agricultural land. More than half
(60%) of the Tete region in the corridor is reserved for
mining, with two large international companies already
operating there. These are expected to develop road,
rail and ports in the region, besides employing thousands
of workers, though that number will drop considerably
when construction is complete. The companies have
already resettled hundreds of local people, mainly
subsistence farmers, to free up the land for mining. The miners need also to
provide houses and social amenities to these displaced people. At present,
neighbouring countries produce the food for the companies’ employees
involved in the mining operations, and there is not always enough. While
the mining companies see this as a procurement problem, our institution,
the Beira Agricultural Growth Corridor (BAGC), considers that long-term
development of agriculture in the region would be a valuable solution. The
BAGC is stimulating linkages between mining and agriculture by structuring
demand and developing supply chains involving local producers. It is clear
that mining offers opportunities for agriculture via improved infrastructure,
and the mining companies’ need for food gives local farmers a nearby
market, especially during the construction phase. The role of the BAGC is
to create incentives for local sourcing, and to develop core investment in
local agricultural development.