DILI, 23 december 2021 (TATOLI) – The Acelda Company exports annually more than 200 tons of candlenut to three countries – the USA, China, and Indonesia, every year.
The company has also received requests to export candlenuts to Japan and Turkey.
Higino da Costa Freitas, Director of Acelda, said that the company bought the candlenuts from farmers in Baucau, Lautém, Manatuto, and Viqueque municipality. One kilogram of the candlenuts costs US$1.00.
Acelda started the business in 2004. The company is currently employing 12 workers, including entrepreneurs, who collect the product in the municipalities.
“Acelda exports 18 tons of peeled candlenuts and candlenuts oil every month. We export 15 tons of the oil or 76 barrels every four months, but it depends on market demand or the request made by each country,” he explained.
He stressed that before exporting the product abroad, the samples of the candlenuts have to be sent to Indonesia to test their quality.
“Having no laboratory is a challenge for the company because we simply couldn’t do the test here in Timor-Leste to know the quality of the candlenuts before exporting to other countries,” he said.
Freitas recalled that the idea of producing and exporting candlenuts was suggested by university students from Hawaii, USA, in Timor-Leste.
“Studies conducted by the university students in Hawaii showed that Acelda could produce cooking oil from candlenuts to be exported to other countries. So, the company started the production and exporting it,” he said.
Asking about the quantity of the product, Costa said, for now, Timor-Leste has enough candlenuts, adding the Government and farmers must increase the production of candlenuts in the future.
“The government needs to rehabilitate and increase the production of candlenuts. It is one of our main agricultural products for export. The government needs to motivate the farmers to grow more candlenuts plants,” he suggested.
The company has its headquarters in the sub-village of Darsula, of the Garaiuai village, in Baucau municipality.
Journalist: Jesuína Xavier
Editor: Maria Auxiliadora
Translation: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
