DILI, 30 january 2023 (TATOLI)– Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery, National Department of Agricultural Extension, to recruit new agricultural extension agents in 2024 to cover agricultural activities across municipalities.
National Director of Agricultural Extension, Oscar Monteiro Goncalves, said this following the number of Agricultural extension agents that are limited to responding to the MAF need.
“Since 2008 to 2023, MAF has 423 agricultural extension officers, so it is very difficult to cover all agricultural activities of farmers in the municipalities during this time,” said the National Director of Agricultural Extension, Oscar Goncalves, when interviewed by TATOLI at his office Comoro Dili, on Monday.
Goncalves said, with the small number of extentionists, one person sometimes covers 8 to 12 villages at the same time, therefore the work is not so well or effective:” With the limited number, it is not effective to provide counseling to farmers activities to raise livestock and ensure food security in Timor-Leste,”
“In addition to responding to this issue, MAF through the National Directorate of Agricultural Extension plans to conduct a recruitment for the new Agricultural Extension Agents in 2024 to provide technical assistance to farmers in the agriculture sectors also contribute to the country’s economic growth,”
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
