DILI, 04 November 2020 (TATOLI)– As the government gears up for the next State budget, The Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery is planning on allocating money towards the rehabilitation of eight irrigations networks as a means for intensifying the production within the country in the year of 2021.
“These Eight irrigation systems will be repaired following the approval from the Commission for Revision of Political Budget (CROP),” Minister of Agriculture and Fishery, Pedro Reis said after the Council Meeting.
He said these eight systems of irrigation which will be repaired are located in Maliana II, Webaba, Raibere, Bebui and other areas.
“We have prioritised the entire repair of these irrigations systems; however, they are dependant on the budget, and we will propose this fix to the government. Currently, we are giving priority to the areas which are abandoned, such as rice fields that have been abandoned,” he said.
Mr Reis is optimistic that there will be an increase in the production within the country one the irrigation system is repaired.
“The natural disasters like flooding could potentially bring in a huge amount of water which would need to be drained away with the current irrigation, there is no way that production will increase, but when the irrigation is fixed of course the production of goods will increase,” he said.
So far, 771 hectares of land is being used as part of the system, and another 57 hectares has implemented an okay agricultural system which is means the planting is following the line and the control for the fertiliser, pesticide, water and no grasses.
Journalist: Natalino Costa
Editor: Julia Chatarina/Nick Kettle
