DILI 23 august 2022 (TATOLI)—The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MAPPF) plans to carry out Agriculture field mapping in 2024 in order to intensify farmers’ efforts to increase food security in 2024, Odete Maria do Ceu, Director General of the MAPPF has said.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has recorded a total of 86,000 hectares of potential land for paddy fields and less than 35,000 hectares of vacant land. Therefore the agricultural mapping field will be conducted to identify the land use and unuse land to increase the local production,” She said.
In addition, she said, land mapping should be conducted because many agricultural lands were used by the residents to build houses, while some agricultural lands were damaged by landslides and floods.
“We want to identify and actualize data on potential agricultural land in 2024, adjusting to previous data. Because currently many agricultural lands in the municipalities of Manatuto, Viqueque, and others have been occupied by residents and some have been damaged by the floods.” She says.
After the national mapping data collection is realized, the Ministry of Agriculture will work with international partners such as the World Food Organization (WFP) and other local organizations to intensify food security in this country.
The Director General of MAPPF also called on residents across the country to stop occupying agricultural land, saying
government through the Ministry of Agriculture together with partners and farmers will expand rice fields to plant rice and other food.
“All of these efforts are made to increase local food productivity which can prevent imports and ensure food security in the future,” She said.
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
