DILI, 09 february 2022 (TATOLI)—Ministery of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) through the procurement process of 10,000 coconut seeds from three countries for Timor-Leste (TL).
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pedro dos Reis said that the Government is providing land for coconut nurseries in Viqueque municipality. However the seed nurseries have not arrived yet due to covid-19.
The National Director of Agro-Commerce and Private Sector Cooperation of MAP is also working on the immediate realization of the purchase process.
“I’ve been instructed to rush the procurement process. We want to grow coconuts with other varieties from a Timorese farmer in Timor-Leste,“said Pedro exclusively at the MAP Office, Comoro, monday.
Thus, the process is snowing due to some countries still facing a pandemic. Therefore it is good communication between us.
Pedro explained that the government continues to contact countries that have decided to purchase coconut seeds such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Previously, MAP’s National Director of Agro-Commerce and Private Sector Cooperation, Fernando Egidio Amaral clarified to Tatoli, MAF was initially planning to revitalize the coconut industry in the TL. Thus, 10,000 best coconut seeds from three countries in 2021.
The coconut seeds were imported from Sulawesi, Indonesia, procured through ICC (International Coconut Community).
Maritime transportation is not regularly operating due to COVID-19. Thus, this is postponed to 2022 and hopefully will arrive as soon as possible in Timor-Leste.
It is recalled that the Indonesian Ambassador to the TL, Okto Dorinus Manik said his party would provide technical assistance for Rai Tahu Viqueque to revitalize coconuts, but everything was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Hopefully this COVID can disappear so the movement is easier, we have a lot of issues that are hampered by COVID, there is no visit from both parties, hopefully, COVID at the end of february can subside,” Ambassador Okto said.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Rafy Belo
