DILI, 22 june (TATOLI)- The recent heavy rains have destroyed many farmer corps that have planted to support the government’s implementation of the basic food program, said Julio Pereira Soares, Mau-Kiak Farmer Manager.
Soares admitted that this year because their agricultural land has produced a small number of crops, they were unable to provide local products to support the government in the implementation of the second food basket program.
“In 2021, we have enough local crops for the basic food program. However, in 2022 we don’t have enough crops because we are facing a very critical situation. Half of our agricultural land has been destroyed during heavy rains,” Farmer manager, Julio Pereira Soares told TATOLI at Mau-Kiak farm, Tibar, this Wednesday.
Soares explained, that they have 3 hectares of land invested for agriculture but natural disasters have hampered everything, therefore they produce less product with low income, in addition, they only have limited finances and limited human resources.
“Currently we are cultivating various local plants on this land. Consists of cucumber, tomato, spinach, broccoli, papaya, watermelon, chili, melon, and others, therefore we recommend to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and other related NGOs to provide some support focused on financial and capacity training to improve the capacity of local farmers to earn more income and contribute to the country’s economy,”
Soares also asked the government to build an irrigation system to regulate the flow of water to the plants.
“Farmers’ land covering an area of 3 hectares that has been destroyed by the heavy rain, therefore it is necessary to rebuild a water barrier to avoid a greater impact on agricultural land,”
In the same place, Soares also said that there is no fixed price for local products in the market adding that the price of local products will depend on market demand, if demand is high then prices will be low and with low demand from the market, the price will be high.
“Therefore, we ask the government to set a standard price to help farmers commercialize their products in the market,” he said.
Mau-Kiak usually provides supplies to several supermarkets across the DILI including Dili Mart, Mei Mart, Lita Store, Tibar Harbor, and others.
Soare said: “We have set up our own business called “LOJA AMIGO TOOS NAIN” which sells local produce that we grow on the Mau-Kiak farm,
According to Mau-Kiak’s manager, Soares, Mau-Kiak’s farmers collect 2,000 USD every month, but after the country was hit by the April 4 floods, the income fell to $1,000 from $2,000 every month.
So far Mau Kiak farm owned by Julio Pereira Soares a farmer from Viqueque Makadiki village was born on 19 July 1999.
Soares likes to do what farmers do, saying this will make a big contribution to the country’s economy.
Julio Fernandes Soares finished junior high school in 2005 and dropped out of high school due to the civil war, but after the war, he continued to study at Natarbora Agricultural Engineering (SPP) in 2007.
He continued his study at the University of Kediri, Indonesia in 2010 and finished in 2015. After graduating from the University, he worked at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries from 2019 to 2021 and decided to work as a farmer to cultivate local crops on the Mau-Kiak farm in the village of Fatu Mea municipality of Liquica.
His first goal in creating the Mau Kiak farm was to produce more local crops and ensure everyone consumes local nutritious food while at the same time supporting the government and contributing to the country’s economy.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia Borges
