DILI, 31 December 2021 (TATOLI)- Timor-Leste’s Republic President, Francisco Guterres “Lú Olo” calls for greater investment in the country agriculture and hoping that the country will reduce its dependence on imports.
“Timor-Leste must create conditions for the country to reduce its dependence on imports. Therefore, we must prioritize the agricultural sector, namely family farming,” President, Lú Olo, statement at the celebration of National Heroes Day, December 31, at Nicolau Lobato Rotunda, Comoro, Dili.
Lú Olo emphasized that the essential products had to be imported, resulting in “huge costs”
“Our country is not sovereign until we get food sovereignty,” said Lú Olo.
However, he also acknowledged transportation and logistics problems due to COVID-19.
“The PR wishes to attract the attention of those in charge and the public because we do not know when will be the end of COVID-19, while new omicron virus has recently appeared and are spreading rapidly. We don’t have it yet. There is information about the entry of this new variant into the country. Therefore, we must be prepared if this happens,” he added.
Lú Olo considers that floods and health crises have shown a slow response to problems that arise unexpectedly, indicating “lack of planning and organizing capacity”
The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pedro dos Reis, has previously said, as part of the national dialogue, that the Government intends to reduce imports into the country through “partnerships with multiple entities”.
The Coordinator of the Office of Civil Society Support, Filipe da Costa, also warned of the absence of an inadequate food system in the country.
“We still have problems with natural and financial resources to invest in agriculture, distribution systems and, above all, lack of earning power” he stressed.
da Costa recalls that about one million tonnes of imported food products, it is 37%, was wasted in Timor-Leste. Therefore, it is necessary to conserve food products so that the state can eliminate food insecurity.
“According to data, 36% of the population lives with severe food insecurity, 25% with safe food, the majority in Dili.
According to the indicators of the Consolidated Plan for Nutrition and Food Security, 24% of the population suffers from malnutrition, 36% is food insecure, and 48% of children suffer from stunting. By 2030, we anticipate a decline in value from 25% to 0%,” he said.
Journalist: Domingos Piedade Freitas
Editor: Maria Auxiliadora
Translation: José Belarmino De Sá
