DILI, 13 january 2022 (TATOLI) The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) allocates US$ 500.000 every year for the Community-Based Forestry Development Program to expand Timor-Leste’s forest by increasing the number of commercial trees species in the country.
“MoAF has carried out the revitalization of several tree species since 2017. We have a community-based forest development program. So, we allocate at least US$500.000 every year to the program to increase the commercial trees for industrial purposes. These commercial trees include sandalwood, teak wood, ai-ná (local name) and ai-saria (local name) and mahogany,” said the Director-General for Forests, Coffee, and Industrial Plants of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery (MoAF), Raimundo Mau to TATOLI, in Caicoli, Dili.
The technical team of MoAF has already cultivated more than 50 hectares per year, aiming to expand the plantation of commercial trees in the coming years.
“We also provide a budget for mini dams development program to ensure enough water during the dry season,” he added.
He stressed that the ministry will purchase two portable water tanks to facilitate the watering process of the 200 hectares of sandalwood plantation in Ahic Juice area of Lacluta administrative post in Viqueque Bobonaro municipality, 100 hectares in Zumalai, of Covalima municipality, 200 in Atabae of Bobonaro municipality, including the expansion of coffee plantation Letefoho in the Administrative Post in Ermera and Aileu municipality.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
