Biombo is a region in western Guinea-Bissau, with an area of 840 km2 and its capital is Quinhámel. There has not been any local administration since the civil war of 1998-99, and all the social services are done by organs of civil society and other government agencies. It is a coastal region covered with Mangrove swamps, rain forest, tangled forest, and receives an annual rainfall of more than 1,000 mm (39 in).
As of 2009, the total population of the region was 93,039, with the urban population being 11,030, and rural being 82,009. The sex ratio of the region is 89 females for every hundred males. As of 2009, there net activity rate was 50.47 per cent, proportion of employed labour force was 35.03 per cent, proportion of labour force was 77.74 and the proportion of potentially active population was 35.03 per cent. The absolute poverty rate, people earning less than $2 a day, in the region stood at 63.6 per cent, with a regional contribution of 9.1 per cent to the national poverty totals.
Geography
Biombo is a low-lying coastal region and the low-lying coastal areas are periodically submerged during high tide. All the coastal regions have a maximum elevation of 300 m (980 ft). The internal region has plains, which are interspersed with rias. There are lot of meandering rivers, many of them forming estuaries in the coastal regions. The principal river, Cacheu, flows through the region. The climate is hot and tropical and the region has two seasons. The onset of summer is from December to May with April - May period having temperature ranges from 20 °C (68 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F). The rainy season is usually from May to November. The region receives an average rainfall of around 2,000 mm (79 in) compared to the inland regions, which receive 1,000 mm (39 in). The coastal regions are covered with Mangrove swamps, rain forest and tangled forest.[1]
Administration
Sectors of Biombo
Biombo is divided into 3 sectors, namely, Prabis, Quinhamel and Safim. Guinea-Bissau got independence from Portugal on 24 September 1973 after wars and diplomatic political actions under the Partido Africano da Independência de Cabo Verde (PAICV), while Portugal accepted the independence of Cape Verde on 5 July 1975. PAICV ruled both the countries after independence. While international funds came pouring in for the economic development of the nation, the party was accused of misusing power in authoritarian manner. The one-party state mechanism was turbulent during the period of 1980s and 1990s with army taking control of power more frequently and the resultant civil war resulted in loss of property and lives. To decentralize power, an administrative region and eight regions were created.[2] There has not been any local administration since the civil war of 1998-99 and all the social services are done by organs of civil society and other government agencies. There is minimal health and education services offered by the government and all the government departments have operated in a limited fashion. A transitional government was selected during 2003–4 with an adopted Public Transition Charter. The Military Committee appointed two civilians as interim President and Prime Minister. Elections were held for a five-year term on 24 July 2005 with a multi party representation.[3] There was a military coup in 2012, after which EU and international donations stopped. The latest elections were held during April 2014 with 13 Presidential candidates and representation from 15 parties. The elections were monitored by 550 international observers.[4] Jose Mario Vaz and his party, won the Presidential and parliamentary elections against the military backed Nuno Gomes Nabiam.[5]
As of 2009, the total population of the region was 93,039, with the urban population being 11,030 and rural being 82,009. The sex ratio of the region is 89 females for every hundred males. The total resident population in the region is 93,039. The total agricultural population in the region is 32,012. The average number of household in the region is 7.0 and the density of the population is 110.9 km2. The intercensal rate of average annual growth (adjusted data) is 2.69 per cent. The non-agricultural population in the country is 61,027. The total number of households per capita in the region is 13,328. The fraction of Christians in the region is 30.2 per cent, Muslims is 6.30 per cent, animists is 40.10 per cent, not detailed was 20.80 per cent and people following no religion was 2.5 per cent.[6]
Faith
Percentage
Christian
30.2%
Muslim
6.3%
Animist
40.1%
Not Detailed
20.8%
No Religion
2.5%
Economy
People in Biombo
As of 2009, there net activity rate was 50.47 per cent, proportion of employed labour force was 35.03 per cent, proportion of labour force was 77.74 and the proportion of potentially active population was 35.03 per cent.[7] The major economic activity in the parts around the rivers and the coastal areas is fishing, while it is agriculture in the inland areas. As of 2011, the total population which is active constitutes 60 per cent nationwide indicating there are lot of employed people. But the poverty rate is very high in the country with an estimated two-thirds below the poverty line. Out of the working population, an estimated 58.4 per cent are employed in freelance activities, while wage earners formed 42 per cent. The unemployment in the region as of 2001 was 10.2 per cent, compared to the capital Bissau which has 19.3 per cent.
Map of mangroves and bolanhas
Totally 63.5 per cent were employed in agriculture (including forestry), 8.9 in industry and 6.1 per cent in public administration. As per IMF report in 2011, people who were engaged in agriculture were poorer compared to others, while educated and higher educated people earned more. The absolute poverty rate, people earning less than $2 a day, in the region stood at 63.6 per cent, with a regional contribution of 9.1 per cent to the national poverty totals.[8]
Bolanhas
Bolanhas are rice polders amidst the mangroves along sea arms (creeks) intruding the coastal area of Guinea Bissau. The rice polders are protected from flooding by seawater with bunds. There are acid sulfate soils inside the polders. Over decades, farmers have been able to improve the soils by continuous drainage during the rainy season.[9]
^International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement (ILRI), 1980. Rice polders in the acid sulfate soils of the bolanhas in the mangroves of Guinea Bissau. Published in Annual Report 1980, ILRI, Wageningen, The Netherlands. On line: [1]
Guinea-Bissau
