DILI, 16 november 2023 (TATOLI) – Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has ended its Project for Increasing Farmer’s Households’ Income through Strengthening Domestic Rice Production in Timor-Leste.
The completion of the project was announced at a national workshop organized jointly by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MoALFF).
The project covered Maliana I and Buluto irrigation schemes, and its surrounding area, and Rice stockpiling warehouses in Dili and Tibar.
The aim of the implementation of the project is to support the livelihoods of farmers living in the project sites to improve their incomes by boosting rice production.
The director-general of MoALFF, Martinho Laurentino Soares, said that the Government of Japan, through JICA, had provided financial support for the rehabilitation of the Maliana irrigation scheme in Bobonaro municipality, with a total budget of US$6 million, and the Buluto irrigation scheme, in Manatuto municipality, with a total budget of US$13 million.
“This is our final workshop to evaluate the results of the project, especially with the rehabilitation of the two irrigation systems in relation to increasing the income of selected farmer households from rice harvests in the project sites,” Mr Soares said.
He said that the rehabilitation of the two irrigations brought a significant increase in local farmers’ rice production from 2.5 tons per hectare each season in 2019 to 6 tons per hectare this year.
“This project is a good example for the government to implement similar projects to continue supporting local farmers in increasing food production in the country,” he said.
JICA Representative in Timor-Leste, Yuta Hayakawa said that the selected farmers households’ income from rice produce in the project sites has been increased through the improvement of value-chain production, manufacturing and processing, distribution, and sales/consumption).
In addition, JICA also provided training, equipment, and other materials necessary for implementation.
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
