DILI, 22 november 2022 ( TATOLI)– The Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery, Acacio Guterres, said that MAF has completed its top priority program worth 4 million USD.
“The priority programs worth US$4 million, of the total budget MAF divided into four priority programs including capacity building for the 1310 groups composed of 6684 fishers and 762 freshwater fish farmer groups composed of 2300 fishers with a budget of $ 50,000, procurement of integrated fishing equipment and food for tilapia worth $ 160,000, construction of a training center in Maubara is $ 400,000 ongoing projects and the purchase of one fishing industry vessel worth US$ 3.5 million, “Acacio Guterres, told TATOLI in his office Comoro, Dili on tuesday.
The Capacity Building was offered for 1310 groups with a total of 6684 fishers in 11 municipalities except for Aileu and Ermera, and also facilitate integrated fishing types of equipment, also empower community groups of 762 with a total of 2300 freshwater fish farmers in 13 municipalities.
While Guterres said, the purchase of seven industrial fishing vessels which previously collaborated with the Hong Long Company and Argo from China has not been implemented adding that there has not been a binding Memorandum of Understanding between Timor-Leste and the other countries.
“But the Directorate General Fisheries will continue to strive to implement this partnerships program in 2023,” he said.
Other than that, MAF has also been working together with the Company from Indonesia, to construct the fishing industrial port in Metinaro, however, the project was not been completed due to a lack of budget.
“The construction of the port was estimated will cost up to 5.5 million.
MAF and Indonesia company Terafold and Company of Consul Mar from Portugal had concluded the design of the Bill of Quantity ( BOQ) in 2022, MAF will continue to talk with the international partners and the Government of Timor – Leste, to place the budget for this project in the future,” he said.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
