DILI, 19 september 2022 (TATOLI) – Yunnan Association of Friendship with Foreign Countries, together with the Chinese embassy in Dili, donated US$70.000 to the Timorese Coffee Association (ACT) to help coffee farmers in boosting coffee bean yield.
Speaking at the handover ceremony of the financial support, Xiao Jianguo said that US$70.000 was donated to ACT to support Timorese coffee farmers in maximizing sustainable farming practices and increasing coffee quality, and productivity.
“In order to support Timor-Leste’s National Coffee Rehabilitation Program to diversify its economy, which was launched by President Horta, the Chinese Embassy and Yunnan Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries have decided to donate US$70.000 to the ACT,” Ambassador Jianguo said in his speech at Suai Room of Timor Plaza, in Dili, today.
In November 2021, the Chinese Embassy also donated US$20.000 to ACT to support the coffee industry in an effort of economic recovery after the April 4 flash flood.
Eighty percent of Timorese people depend on agriculture for their livelihood, of which about 18.9% of all households in Timor-Leste engage in agricultural activities.
An the same place, the president of ACT Evangelino Monteiro said the money will be used to conduct training on sustainable coffee farming practices to improve coffee quality and productivity.
“This money will be used for rehabilitation of the coffee plantation, training program on sustainable coffee farming, and so on,” said Monteiro.
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pedro dos Reis said that the government is having a good collaboration with the Timor-Leste Coffee Cooperative (CCT) and ACT to increase the production of coffee yield: “We signed a contract with CCT and ACT to maximize the production of coffee in the country”.
Timor-Leste has around 95,000 hectares of coffee in six municipalities – Ermera, Liquiçá, Manufahi, Aileu, Ainaro, and Manatuto.
The government of Timor-Leste has committed to providing subsidies to support coffee farmers to rehabilitate their coffee plantations.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
