DILI, 13 october 2022 (TATOLI) –Agricultural Researcher from La’o Hamutuk NGO, Mariano Ferreira highlights the urgency of food diversification in Timor-Leste to reduce imports and ensure nutritional security in the country.
“Currently, the Government only focuses on investing in increasing corn and rice production. In Timor-Leste, we have a large diversity of products and, therefore, the Government needs to invest in other areas for greater food diversification”, Mariano Ferreira, said in line with the celebration of World Food Day, on the 16th.
According to researchers, the majority of Timor-Leste’s population consumes rice and the country imports about 130,000 tons of rice annually while only 70,000 tons are locally produced.
The results of the 2019 Agricultural Census show that out of 509,226 hectares corresponding to the total gross area of cultivation, only 18% is used for maize and only 7.6% for rice production.
According to the document, apart from reducing agricultural production of maize and rice, Timorese farmers only use 7.4% of the cultivated area for cassava and 6.3% for coffee.
“The Hasatil Network and the Timor-Leste Agricultural Coalition recommend the government diversifies food production to reduce dependence on rice and maize. We have several sectors that have the potential to produce other products and reduce rice imports,” he added.
According to Ferreira, Governments and international development partners, every year celebrate World Food Day, but they have not to find the problems of food insecurity, malnutrition, and poverty.
“Intervention from all relevant ministries is most required. Every year we celebrate World Food Day, but there is no real action to improve the conditions of farmers to increase production and increase people’s income. We continue to depend on imports”, he said.
He also recalls, that the National Parliament annually approves thousands of dollars from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget, including, within that budget, the agricultural sector to increase food production.
According to the 2019 Agricultural Census, around 36% of farmers suffer from chronic food insecurity. Mariano Ferreira believes, therefore, the Government needs to create a program based on the results of the Census to address the situation.
The spokeswoman for the Hasatil Network and the Timor-Leste Agricultural Coalition, Deviana Sarmento, urged farmers to produce a greater variety of products to ensure food security in the country.
“The government should invest in basic infrastructure, especially roads in rural areas to boost local economic growth and increase farmers’ sources of income,” he stressed.
The celebration of World Food Day began in 1981 and was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Journalist: José Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Nelia B.
