DILI, 28 september 2028 (TATOLI) – The Chamber of Commerce Industry Timor-Leste (CCI-TL) encouraged Timorese entrepreneurs to invest in the agriculture sector to increase local production and reduce rice prices in Timor-Leste.
The President of CCI-TL, Jorge Manuel Serrano, said the Timor-Leste government must work together with the private sector to invest in the agriculture sector to increase local products to respond to national consumption.
“We have potential agriculture sectors; fertilize the soil to grow local products. We are able to reduce the imported rice and normalize the rice price,’’ President of CCI-TL, Jorge Manuel Serrano, told journalists in Bebora today.
He emphasized that the participation of local entrepreneurs in investing in agriculture will intensify local crops. Thus, Timor-Leste will have sufficient rice, and the government will be able to control rice prices.
CCI-TL requested all relevant agriculture institutions to work with Timorese entrepreneurs to improve and increase local products.
Mr. Serrano said CCI-TL has coordinated with the Minister of Agriculture to have a survey for demo plots for the agriculture sector to increase local products.
“We will also design demo plots to find out the quality of local rice for each hectare in more developing rice fields and increase local rice production,’’ he explained.
He added that CCI-TL is also coordinating with Indonesian PT. Petrosida Gresik to have a data assessment for agricultural land in Timor-Leste to ensure productive soil to grow local crops.
It’s recalled that in 2024, CCI-TL will focus on agriculture demo plots in three municipalities, such as Maliana, Baucau (Vemasse), and Manatuto (Laleia), and will also be expanding to other municipalities.
CCI-TL will target increasing rice quality by eight to 12 tons per hectare.
Journalist: José Belarmino de Sá
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
