DILI, 27 september 2023 (TATOLI) – The National Director of Agriculture and Horticulture, Lucio M. Ribeiro, said the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry (MALFF), through the National Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, will distribute 79 tons of corn species “Sele-Noi Mutin” to the farmers in the municipalities.
“We have allocated $ 327,000 to buy the 79 tons of corn from the farmers and will redistribute it to them in the municipalities. The species of corn, “Sele and Noi Mutin, will be distributed freely to the corn farmers in the municipalities, aiming to increase the productivity of corn in Timor-Lest to guarantee food security in Timor-Lest in the future, National Director Lucio Ribeiro told TATOLI at his office, Comoro Dili.
Ribeiro explained that the implementation of the purchasing of corn was conducted by the winning tender from the local company that had bought the corn from the municipalities.
“The purchasing of corn by Sele-Noi Mutin had started, and according to the plan, MALFF will distribute it to the farmers in the municipalities in November 2023,” he added.
The policy of distributing the seed of corn is conducted to increase the productivity of corn for national consumption and, besides that, to utilize it as an alternative for animal food in Timor-Leste.
Meanwhile, 79 tons of corn “Sele- Noi Mutin, which will be distributed to the municipality of Ainaro, are: 6,000 kg, Aileu 5,000 kg, Baucau 7,000 kg, Covalima 7,000 kg, Ermera 5,000 kg, Likisa 6,000 kg, Lautem 7,000 kg, Manatuto 6,000 kg,Manufahi 7,000 kg, Viqueque 7,000 kg, Ataúro 3,000 kg, and reserve 1,000 with a total accumulative 79,000 kg.
79,000 kg of corn will be planted on the 3,950 hectares of corn in Timor-Leste.
“Hopefully, this effort will raise the productivity in Timor-Leste to ensure the sustainability of food security in the future”.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
