Icolo e Bengo - The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) kicked off its 3rd Technical Council to find possible solutions for the full functioning of the agricultural chain, together with other players in the sector.
For two days, farmers, ranchers and financial entities will be discussing problems that prevent agricultural production, distribution and consumption from working effectively.
Held under the motto “Family farming, the bulwark of the economy and food security in Angola”, the event aims to make this process normal and swift and to help maintain family incomes and boost the national economy.
During his speech at the opening of the activity, the director-general of the Institute for Agrarian Development (IDA), Felismino da Costa, said in Angola, family farming is responsible for more than 90 percent of all the land sown and more than 80 percent of agricultural production.
He added that the government’s goals for the 2023-2027 development plan indicate inclusive growth, guaranteeing economic and social well-being for more than three million families who practice and live from agriculture.
According to the director, this would require the adoption of public policies based on local knowledge and the technical and technological development of family farms.
According to the director, following the public consultation carried throughout the country, it is expected that a national family farming policy will be drawn up and the rural development extension program updated, with the aim of helping to improve the favorable policy environment for family farming.
“Today, the challenges facing family farming are associated with limited access, discontinuity in the logistics chain and distribution before and after national agricultural and livestock production,” he stressed.
Felismino da Costa said access to technical knowledge through field schools is a reality based on increased production and productivity, which is being consolidated with financial literacy, the promotion of small investments to support marketing and small processing units in rural areas.
On this first day, the participants covered topics such as “Public policies for the development of family farming” and the “Rural extension and development program”.
Friday's topics included “Information collection systems in rural areas”, “Processing statistical data” and “Paradigm for projecting agricultural years”. AJQ/AMP
