DILI, 10 november 2022 (TATOLI) – The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will support the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) with solar panels for the development of fish farming projects in the country.
KOICA would provide a 45-kW grid-connected solar (PV) system and a 288-kW battery energy storage system (ESS) to support fish farming development in Timor-Leste.
The Country Director of KOICA Eunju Cha said that the provision of solar power is to increase fish production in the country.
“KOICA, as the Korean development agency, has been working very closely with Timor-Leste for social and economic development. We are committed to supporting Timor-Leste, especially in the agriculture and fisheries sectors,” Cha said in her remarks at the Ministry of Finance’s meeting room, in Dili.
She said the development of aquaculture in Timor-Leste is driven by the country’s desire to combat chronic food insecurity and malnutrition: “The government aims to increase annual fish production to 12,000 tonnes by 2030, with aquaculture providing up to 40% of the domestic fish supply and providing direct nutrition to 40,000 households.”
Cha said that apart from the solar panels, KOICA has also supported US$6 million to contribute to economic growth and improve quality nutrition for the population.
The National Director for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Horacio Amaral dos Santos Guterres explained that the electrical energy in Timor-Leste does not help and harms fish farming. There are many power outages and these last for many hours so it is very important to have solar panels.
The National Institute of Fishing and Aquaculture (INFA) is developing a species of fish, the Freshwater Nile, and has already distributed 268,000 to families and groups of farmers in 13 municipalities,” he said.
“All our efforts must ultimately contribute to strengthening the fishing and aquaculture industry to produce more fish to increase income and improve nutrition in the country,” Guterres said.
The Secretary of State for Fisheries, Ilídio de Araújo, thanked KOICA for having the goodwill to continue supporting the Government through INFA on scientific research and the creation of fish farming projects.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia Borges
