DILI, 27 september 2021 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAP) considered the Subsidized Food Program for public officials as a good initiative to motivate farmers in boosting local food production.
“I think we have talked about ‘Povu Kuda no Governu Sosa’ but we haven’t done any about it. So, the Decree-Law of the Subsidized Food Program for the public officials was a good program to make it happen by motivating the farmers to boost the production of our locally grown food,” Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pedro dos Reis told reporters after meeting Prime-Minister at the Palace of the Government, on thursday.
He said with the initiative, the Government indeed committed to investing in the agriculture sector to assist farmers in growing more local food.
“It’s not easy to distribute the food to all public officials, but this initiative would motivate our farmers to grow their rice, corn, and other crops,” said Reis.
According to MAP, of the 80.000 hectares of rice field, only 30.000 had been cultivated so far.
“We will make a good investment in the agricultural sector with adequate facilities in order to facilitate the Subsidized Food Program,” said Reis.
Reis informed that Government will prepare pesticides prior to the cultivation of the rice and other crops in order to protect the crops of the farmers from pests and diseases.
He said Government will prepare farm dams to ensure farmers would have enough water during the dry season to grow the crops.
Based on the decree-law, every month, a public official would receive 35 kg of rice, five kg of corn, five kg of the bean, five kg of mung bean, and two kg of soya bean.
These food items would deliver to the public officials every three months, said in a statement.
Journalist: Florencio Miranda Ximenes
Editor: Julia Chatarina
Translation: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
