Soil Fertility
In the high plateau in the north and central area of the province, the soil type varies from sand to granite "banket red." In southern Niassa and a small strip along the Lake Niassa, soils dominate the river.
However the soils of the river do not cover more than 10% of the area throughout the province. The Niassa has a diversity of land sufficient to accommodate most of the cereals. In 70% of the surface, a layer of topsoil has more than 1m deep and an average capacity of water retention of more than 150 mm. Locally, along the rivers or in inland soils, there may be problems with poor water flow. The pH of the banket red "and more sandy soils is approximately 5.5 to 7.5. A pH below 5 is locally, but is very rare.
Irrigation
The presence of many rivers of steady and high water table make the establishment of an irrigation system is easily accessible. Moreover, the temperate climate, fertile soil and good drainage make a profitable system of irrigation.
Production of cereals and market opportunities
Corn: You can expect yields from 9 to 14 tonnes per ha in the production of crops dependent on rain. Due to the long period of growth, late maturity varieties of can also be cultivated. There are particular problems of disease. There are problems of market for the 2003 harvest. Refers to the price from 100 to 150 U.S. $ / t.
Bean: You can grow up beans after harvest of maize planting early maturing and dependent on rain. You can achieve an output of 2 t. No problem of disease in particular. There are problems of market and can be expected at a price point of $ 200 per tonne
Sunflower: Income up to 2 t per ha in the last planting (March). No problem of disease in particular. There is a large local market for edible oil - $ 1 per liter.
Soybeans: Currently there is a large production of soybeans, but the climate and soil conditions are appropriate, and the Scandinavian countries have shown an interest in grnade purchase products for soybean-based diets. Unfortunately the price of $ 150 per tonne is very low now.
Tobacco: The Stancom and SW - two companies that sell tobacco, tobacco grow successfully in Virginia and Burley Niassa. Especially the Stancom is contacting commercial farmers to grow tobacco Virginia. This provides the basis for investment loans, paying prices from 0085 to U.S. $ 2.0 per kg depending on quality.
Peanuts: The peanut grows well in Niassa, except on the high plateau. Local communities have high-quality peanuts with very low investment.
Cotton: Cotton grows well in Niassa, except the great plateau. Due to the low level of investment in production by local communities notes weak earnings and is of low quality.
Wheat: In this there is no production of wheat in Niassa, but during the colonial period the Portuguese farmers produced, on the high plateau, much wheat harvest in the spring. There is no problem of marketing but the world market price is low.
Potatoes: Great potential for the cultivation of potatoes especially in cool climate most of the high plateau. The local farmers produce a lot of reasonable quality potatoes. However, the diseases that attack the leaves are a serious problem due to the high density rainfall and humidity during the rainy season. There are problems of the market for potatoes.
Coffee: A commercial farmer grows several acres of coffee and 80 km from Lichinga.
Tea: A large area of cultivation of tea growing in the Guru, in Zambezia province, which borders the southern Niassa. Guru in the climate is similar to the outskirts of Lichinga.
Paprika: The Company of Cheetah is now paprika cayenne pepper and spicy type of bird in the eye of Niassa for about $ 1.2 per kg. Currently only small farmers produce the quantity demanded of paprika.