The Minister of State, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Estanislau da Silva, laid on May 7th, the foundation stone of the Rehabilitation and Improvement Project for the Bulutu irrigation scheme, in the area of Hatu Ralan, Administrative Post of Laleia, Municipality of Manatuto.
Also present at the event were the Special Advisor for the Japanese Prime Minister, Taro Kimura, the Minister of Planning and Strategic Development, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and the former Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mariano Assaname Sabino.
The Minister Estanislau da Silva recalled that the Government of Japan had already expressed interest on the construction of the irrigation system and that this project was even conceived during the Fifth Constitutional Government.
The Government of Japan will contribute with 14 million American dollars and the Special Advisor for the Japanese Prime Minister, Taro Kimura, has referred that a good usage of the irrigation can greatly benefit farmers. The water will reach 780 hectares of the tilled plains, benefiting around 600 families. The Government of Timor-Leste grants tax exemption for construction materials of the irrigation scheme, which should be completed in October 2016.
The Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Xanana Gusmão, has still asked the farmers from the Administrative Posts of Laleia (Manatuto) and Vemasse (Baucau) for a careful usage of the equipment.