Benguela - Three cooperatives based in the municipalities of Bocoio, Lobito and Benguela signed on Thursday, in this city, contracts with the Agrarian Development Support Fund (FADA) to receive tractors and motor cultivators, ANGOP learned.
These are the cooperatives 'Havemos de Voltar', from Benguela, 'Comandante Saraiva', from Bocoio, and 'Mulheres Rurais', from Lobito, which promise, in this way, to increase agricultural production through mechanization.
On the occasion, the vice-governor of Benguela for the technical area and infrastructure, Adilson Gonçalves, stated that the Executive has been working with FADA to add added value in terms of agricultural equipment.
'We want to increasingly support small farmers, organized in cooperatives, with a view to starting to mechanize family farming', he said.
Adilson Gonçalves also argued that, with the acquisition of this equipment, combined with training, users will be better prepared to combat hunger and poverty.
In reaction, the representative of the cooperative 'Havemos Voltar', João Lunanda, expressed his satisfaction, claiming that the tractor received will alleviate production costs.
'To work the land, in just one pass, we had to pay forty thousand kwanzas to rent a tractor, but for the perimeter to be in perfect condition for planting, two to three passes are necessary', he said.
The Havemos de Voltar cooperative has 40 hectares distributed among 42 members.
In turn, the representative of the cooperative 'Comandante Saraiva, from Bocoio, Adelino Colila, was also satisfied because his members will no longer cultivate the 100 hectares manually.
In addition to reducing effort, he promised work to increase production levels and contribute to increasing the supply of rural products in the Benguela market and beyond.
However, during the symbolic act, witnessed by members of FADA, IDA and the Provincial Government, the cooperative 'Zona Verde', from the municipality of Benguela, refused to sign the contract, justifying its preference for motor pumps, fertilizers and other inputs to make a profit from its 140 hectares of land.
Artur Alfredo, its representative, stated that FADA's initiative is welcome, but considers that, with this equipment alone, the cooperative will not be able to pay the credits.
'Tractors and motor cultivators only help with preparing the land, but what we need is material for the irrigation system and fertilizer to develop crops for sale. Then yes, we will be able to have the money to honor this commitment,' he explained.
This program, launched for the first time on January 23 of this year, in the province of Namibe, is national in scope, also covering Bié, Cuanza Sul, Huambo, Huíla, Malanje and Uíge, as they have higher levels of agricultural production.
The Program aims to increase the production and productivity of family farmers through the provision of mechanized equipment.
Benguela is the second province to benefit from the program, with the distribution of five tractors and twelve motor cultivators to the municipalities of Lobito, Bocoio, Ganda and the headquarters. TC/CRB/DOJ
