The reduction in funding to Gaza province, under the Sustenta program, may contract overall production by 2.28% in the current fiscal year compared to last year.

Data presented last week in the VII Ordinary Session of the Provincial Assembly show that the overall production for 2022 is estimated at 62,044.76 million meticais, or 2.28% below last year's performance.

The prospects of the Gaza Executive indicate that public finances may suffer a sharp reduction. The revenue collection target is estimated at 6.03 million meticals, which corresponds to a decrease of 5.55% compared to the 2021 revenue.

The provincial director of Economy and Finance, Pedro Beúla, who presented the Plan and Budget of 2022 of the provincial Executive, adjusted to the approved budget limits, justified that the decrease of the global production is influenced by the branch of agriculture, which will lose 4.77 percent due to the reduction of funding from the Sustenta program in the supply of inputs and in the rehabilitation of the irrigated areas of Baixo Limpopo and Chókwè, as well as by the updating of the parameters in the planning, with the application of the results of the Integrated Agrarian Survey 2020.

Despite these constraints, agriculture, fishing and aquaculture remain the sectors that contribute the most to the overall output, which is expected to be 54.87%, followed by retail trade (15.94), transport and storage (15) and telecommunications with 9.71%.

Increased spending

Meanwhile, the overall limit of operating and investment expenses for 2022 was set at 368.31 million meticais, which means a growth of 29.82% when compared to the 2021 figure, which was 283.71 million meticais.

The data presented indicate that salaries and wages will total 163 million meticais. For other personnel expenses, it is expected that 45.71 million meticals will be applied, against the limit set in 2021 of 33.80 million meticals, a growth[1]cement of 35.22%.

For the contracting of goods and services, the Executive points to a limit of 55.86 million meticais.

Despite the financial difficulties caused by the economic climate and the Covid-19 pandemic, the Executive will continue to focus on the social sectors.

The provincial director of Economy and Finance pointed out that the ratio of pupils per teacher in primary education will stand at 61, due to the opening of five new primary schools.

On the other hand, he mentioned that this year there was an elevation of four high schools and distribution of 1375 school desks.

In the health sector, 59,490 children under 12 months of age are expected to be vaccinated this year. With regard to water supply, it is planned to build 33 dispersed water sources, transform three multifunctional water supply systems and nine sources into water supply systems.

Pedro Beúla also pointed to the promotion and creation of 16,189 jobs in the various sectors of economic and social activities and the distribution of 64 "kits" for self-employment, through the various partners and programs.