DILI, 10 february 2023 (TATOLI)- The National Director of Agricultural Extension of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), Oscar Monteiro Goncalves, said all the activities of agricultural extension workers are fully controlled by the Municipal Extension Authorities in Timor – Leste.
“From 2008 to 2009 we recruited 413 Agricultural Extension officers and at that time, we integrated them in each of their municipalities, each municipality has different extension officers, and some municipalities have 30 people to 40 people based on the expansion of their agricultural area. Their working activities are controlled fully by the Agricultural Extension Authorities in every municipality in Timor-Leste,” said Oscar when interviewed by TATOLI at his office, Comoro, Dili on friday.
Question about the lack of an extension officer, Oscar said, the National Extension Department received the annual report on every achievement conveyed by the Authority of Municipal Agricultural Extension which stated that everything going well.
“Administrative management and supervision have been entrusted to the Municipal Agricultural Extension Authority, so all planning is designed by the Municipal Authority and until now MAP has not received any complained from the extensionist workers,” he said.
He added that every year the National Extension Department allocates funds of more than $ 20,538 to support the operational fees, especially travel fees for extension officers who conduct the counseling to farmers in villages in Timor – Leste.
The agricultural extension (also known as agricultural advisory services) plays a crucial role in boosting agricultural productivity, increasing food security, improving rural livelihoods, and promoting agriculture as an engine of pro-poor economic growth.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
