The district of Cuamba is in the southern part of Niassa Province, 295 km from Lichinga (the provincial capital), bordering on the north with the districts of Mandimba and Metarica, on the south with the districts of Mecanhelas and Gurué (in Zambézia Province), to the east with the districts of Lalaua and Malema (in Nampula Province) and to the west with the district of Mecanhelas. Agriculture is the dominant activity and involves almost all households. Agriculture is practiced manually on small farms with crops based on local varieties.