DILI, 19 July 2025 (TATOLI) – Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda has commended Timor-Leste’s progress in revitalizing its coffee sector during a visit to ADB’s Coffee and Agroforestry Livelihood Improvement Project (CALIP) in Aileu Municipality, located 37 kilometers south of Dili.
Speaking on Saturday after touring the municipality, Kanda praised the project’s transformative impact on rural communities and its contribution to diversifying Timor-Leste’s economy beyond oil.
“My visit to Timor-Leste’s coffee-growing regions showcased how ADB’s CALIP project is transforming lives and strengthening communities across six municipalities. From the coffee tasting at the Timor Coffee Association to walking through the demonstration plots in Madabeno 2, I witnessed how this innovative project is revitalizing the country’s most important non-oil export sector,” Kanda said.
During the visit, Kanda engaged with farmers at the Madabeno 2 demonstration farm, where he observed firsthand the benefits of CALIP’s comprehensive training programs. Farmers proudly shared how they are applying modern techniques—such as intercropping coffee with food crops—to create agroforestry systems that improve both food security and household incomes.
“What struck me was their enthusiasm as they explained how the demonstration plots serve as learning centers where knowledge spreads throughout the entire community,” he said.
While visiting the Orijem Timor processing facility, Kanda saw how CALIP is reinforcing the country’s coffee value chain—from farm to market. The facility, supported under the project, aims to improve coffee quality and establish better market linkages, enabling farmers to command higher prices. “Local processors explained how the project’s support for coffee festivals, quality competitions, and barista training is building a stronger coffee culture and opening new market opportunities.”
CALIP currently supports 80 farmer groups and benefits around 2,000 coffee-farming households. The project aligns with Timor-Leste’s national target to double coffee production and increase export value by 270% by 2030.
“This project embodies ADB’s commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s diversification beyond oil dependency,” Kanda said.
The coffee sector is Timor-Leste’s most significant non-oil export, providing income for thousands of rural households and playing a vital role in the country’s socio-economic development.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
