DÍLI, 19 november, 2020 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Ai ba Futuru are organizing the first agroforestry and trade fair in Dili on the 20th and 21st of November at Centro de Convenções in Dili.
This initiative aims to promote agroforestry value chains and foster exchanges between producers, traders, business associations, policy makers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies.
A total of 40 exhibitors will showcase their products related to the agroforestry value chains, including producers, cooperatives, financial suppliers, government services and input suppliers. Additionally, 20 local vendors will sell food in the food court.
The Ambassador of European Union (EU) to Timor-Leste, Andrew Jacobs, said that the agroforestry sector has the potential for Timor-Leste’s economic development and future.
“The opening of the fair scheduled for next Friday, November 20, will be an important step towards economic diversification. The Government is not alone, as it has the support of the European Union, the Ai ba Futuru project, the private sector and commercial operators that are present in the country,” said Andrew Jacobs.
The National Coordinator of GIZ Timor-Leste, Rainer Schellhaas, said that the first agroforestry and Trade Fair aims to share good practices, meet other companies and work in a network.
“Agroforestry has great potential to increase agricultural and forestry production in a limited area and to strengthen rural employment in Timor-Leste, I am delighted that we can promote agroforestry value chains through this fair,” said Rainer Schellhaas the GIZ Coordinator in Timor-Leste.
At the opening of the fair, several speakers from other organizations will make interactive speeches on topics related to agroforestry value chains.
“Three local chefs will present at the culinary show to create tasty and nutritious dishes using local products. on Saturday, a panel discussion on the topic of planting trees will begin throughout ‘One citizen, one tree’ and ‘Ai ba Futuru’, in favor of rural economic development and the fight against climate change in Timor-Leste”, according to the press release.
Ai ba Futuru is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development with $14 million and $4 million respectively.
This project will be implemented for five years and covers the municipalities of Baucau, Lautém, Manatuto and Viqueque,. This project will benefit a total of 4 thousand families from 40 villages that have been selected.
“The area under agroforestry in Timor-Leste will increase by 6 thousand hectares, with a total of three million trees being planted. There will be also increase in the production, job opportunities, access to market as well as generating great income.”
This project also aimed at planting the commercial trees, improve the wood processing and encourage the private sectors to actively involve and invests in this setup project to process the domestic growth of forest trees for local use and for the exports.
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