ERMERA, may 16, 2023 (TATOLI) – The Timor Coffee Cooperative (CCT) has rehabilitated 600 hectares of coffee plantations in the country with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF).
Since many old coffee trees in the country are no longer productive, the rehabilitation aims to increase coffee yields.
The rehabilitation program was implemented by the CCT and the Timor-Leste Coffee Association (ACT), funded by the Government of Timor-Leste through the MoAF.
The Government of Timor-Leste has allocated $6.4 million through its rectification budget to carry out the coffee rehabilitation program in several municipalities, including Ermera, Aileu, Liquiça, Ainaro, and Manufahi.
This rehabilitation program will give a coffee farmer more than $300 for each hectare of rehabilitated coffee plantation.
“So far, we have rehabilitated 200 hectares of coffee plantations in Ermera municipality, 100 hectares in Aileu, 100 hectares in Liquiça, 100 hectares in Ainaro, and 100 hectares in Manufahi municipality. In total, we have rehabilitated 600 hectares,” CCT supervisor José Almeida dos Santos told Tatoli at his office in Railaco, Ermera municipality.
He said the MoAF team has visited the rehabilitation sites in all these municipalities and made the 40% payment to the coffee farmers who gave their coffee plantation for rehabilitation.
The rehabilitation program was launched by the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, and Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak, in the village of Tocoluli, Railaco Administrative Post, Ermera Municipality last year.
Apart from coffee rehabilitation, the CCT also distributes coffee plants to many coffee growers in the five municipalities.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nélia Borges
