DILI, 02 july 2021 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s Non-Governmental Organization, Redi HASATIL’s reports revealed that more than 1.500 hectares of paddy fields and 1.462 hectares of corn farms across the country had been affected by the april flash floods.
The coordinator of the Redi HASATIL, Gil Horacio Boavida states that more than 4.372 farmers were affected by the recent flash floods as their paddy fields and farms were severely damaged.
Boavida said that those farmers who live in the affected areas in the municipalities, including Manatuto, Bobonaro, Aileu, Ermera, Manufahi, Viqueque, Dili, Covalima, Lautem, and RAEOA indeed experienced a difficult situation caused by the floods and unable to overcome the situation themselves.
At the same place, the Principal Advisor of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAP), Frumencio Araujo thanked HASATIL for the report, saying the finding was important for MoAF, and it would consider the findings in the implementation of the MoAF’s public policy and action plan to restore the damages that caused by the floods.
He informed that efforts had been made by the government, through MoAF, to normalize and restore the damages caused by the floods.
“As we all know that many farmers across the country are currently harvesting their crops. It is the result of the work and emergency intervention efforts made by MAP. The emergency intervention included cleaning up the irrigations by removing the sediments and mud. Thus, many irrigations are now functioning as normal and farmers could resume their agricultural activities again,” Araujo made the comments during a public dialogue between FONGTIL and Government, at CNE hall in Dili, today.
He said so far MoAF had spent around US$ 100.000 for the restoration and normalization of the damages of paddy fields, corn farms, and other damages caused by the floods.
According to MAP’s Flood Impact Assessment Report, of all the affected paddy fields, Manatatuto experienced the worst impact with 1.167 hectares of rice field destroyed, followed by 295 hectares in Bobonaro, 121 hectares in Viqueque, and 104 hectares in RAEOA.
In addition, 819 hectares of corn farms were destroyed in Liquica municipality, including 325 in Covalima and 75 in Manatuto municipality.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
