More and better agriculture for Timor-Leste
The IV Constitutional Government is developing a set of activities to increase agricultural productivity in Timor-Leste. In a way to improve the quality of life and welfare of the most needy populations, which specially live in the rural areas, subsisting from agriculture, a set of measures were already put in practice. According to the Director of Planning from the Secretariat of State of Agriculture and Arboriculture, Octávio de Almeida, these measures mainly translate into “support for land cultivation, such as distribution of tractors to farms in the districts, so they can work the land more easily and with better efficiency. This measure started to be implemented last year, as well as other measures such as help to purchase seeds, fertilizer and also pesticides”.
With this direct support, integrated within a plan for development and capacity of national farmers, the Government intends not only to help farmers to increase their production, but also to guarantee food security in Timor-Leste. Octávio de Almeida ensures that, dispite the improvements not being immediately visible, the objective is to get a gradual process that is efficient and lasting, while at the same time the immediate problems are being taken care. “We have to create conditions, specially in the most needed areas, so that food security can be established, parallel with the economic conditions. We cannot forget that in Timor-Leste we face issues of poverty”, states the Director of Planning from the Secretariat of State for Agriculture and Arboriculture.
Studies developed by international agencies, such as the World Food Programme, have showed that mountains areas are the most needed regions in Timor-Leste, in matter of food security. The population that lives next to the coast has a higher source of income than the inhabitants of the high lands. Octávio de Almeida also said “the support measures for farmers, managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, covers all our farmers, that can thus, for example, increase their rice production. Hand tractors are also used in the high lands, such as Aileu, Ainaro and also Manufahi. These areas benefit from the tractors not only for rice production but also for horticulture production”.
