DILI, 10 october 2022 (TATOLI) – The Government of Japan provided 3 million dollars to support the renovation and rehabilitation of coffee plantations in Timor-Leste.
“The money was given by the government of Japan, which is administered by ADB and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF),” Raimundo Mau, the Director General of Forestry, Coffee and Industrial Crops of MAF said at the Presidential Palace, today.
Mau informed that ADB has been supporting coffee farmers in Timor-Leste through the Coffee and Agroforestry Livelihood Improvement Project.
Mau said the money would be used to provide training on coffee rehabilitation to 2,000 coffee farming households in the municipalities of Aileu, Ainaro, Bobonaro, Ermera, Liquica, and Manufahi.
“At today’s meeting, we also briefed President Horta on the ongoing coffee renovation and rehabilitation program in Ermera and other municipalities,” he said.
Mau pointed out that by the end of 2022, Timor-Leste will reach its target of rehabilitating more than 8000 hectares of coffee plantations.
He said the government, through its rectification budget, allocated US$6.4 million for the coffee rejuvenation and rehabilitation program: “Thus, we will have over 8000 hectares of coffee plantations rehabilitated by the end of 2022. Rehabilitation is ongoing and we have already reached 30%.”
“So far, we have rehabilitated more than 20,000 hectares of coffee plantations across the country,” Mau said.
According to the national coffee plantation rehabilitation program, Timor-Leste had planned to rehabilitate more than 50,000 hectares of coffee plantations by 2030.
“The program aims to boost coffee bean yields and its quality to improve the livelihoods of the coffee farmers,” he said.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
