DILI, 14 march 2022 (TATOLI) – National Seed Producers and Trade Association (ANAPROFIKO) – a National Association of Commercial Seed Producers – was formed in march 2015 with assistance from MAF-Seeds of Life, met with the Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak to discuss cooperation in boosting local seed production to reduce Timor-Leste’s dependence on imported seeds.
The President of ANAPROFIKO, Ilidio Mau Tersa Mendonça said seed is the basic vital unit in agriculture, which is also the basis for food security, saying Timor-Leste needs more seed with high quality.
The seed system is one of the most vital components of the agricultural system that serves as an important element in strategies for agricultural development, poverty reduction, and economic development, he stressed.
Since its establishment in 2015, ANAPROFIKO – an umbrella organization of Commercial Seed Producers (CSP) which are registered with the Seed Department of Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to produce, process and/or market quality seed in Timor-Leste.
CSPs include a number of farmer associations or farmer groups, had been working with more than 5.000 farmers across the country: “We have installed seed warehouse in all municipalities and RAEOA to collect Timor-Leste’s locally-grown seeds, namely rice, corn, red bean, yearlong bean, peanut, soya bean and so on.”
“Together with these farmers, last year, we produced more than 300 tons of rice and corn seed. These seeds were purchased by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAP) to be distributed to the Office of the Municipal Agriculture and farmers in the 13 municipalities, including RAEOA,” Mendonça told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Ruak, in Farol, Dili, today.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister appreciated and congratulated ANAPROFIKO’s work in boosting local seed production to prevent imported seeds from other countries.
Timor-Leste has been heavily dependent on imported seeds, especially the imported hybrid vegetable seeds from neighboring country Indonesia. In addition, nowadays, vegetable farmers could easily find and purchase any type of imported hybrid vegetable seeds from China at any Chinese store in Dili and municipalities.
Asking about conserving Timor-Leste’s endangered indigenous seeds, Mendonça said it’s a serious issue for MAP to consider in its program.
Many agricultural experts had warned that the excessive use of imported hybrid seeds in local farming to boost crop production will affect local plant varieties and eventually lead them to extinction.
Today, four corporations — Bayer, Corteva, ChemChina, and Limagrain — control more than 50% of the world’s seeds. These staggering monopolies dominate the global food supply.
However, ANAPROFIKO is established with objectives to represent the interests of the commercial seed producers and to promote the development of commercial seed trade. It is being operated on a voluntary basis. An independent Secretariat is set up in Dili to coordinate its activities in serving the interests of members.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
