Malanje- The Commercial Agriculture Development Project (PDAC) spent USD 22 million on 80 agricultural projects in the provinces of Malanje, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Huambo, Bié and Huila, from 2022 to the present date.
Benefitted from the funding were those companies dedicated to the production of corn, beans, soybeans, coffee, reindeer potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, eggs and chicken.
This amount allowed the beneficiaries to expand the cultivated areas, from 10 to 70 hectares, through the introduction of new technologies, according to the national coordinator of PDAC, Estêvão Chaves.
Estêvão Chaves, who joined the delegation of the State Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock João da Cunha to Malanje province on Wednesday, said that of the 80 projects, 57 belonged to the province of Malanje, worth US$4 million and, in addition to agricultural production, generated 300 direct jobs.
The official stated that at this time, 100 new financing proposals for investment initiatives for Malanje are under evaluation by the PDAC.
Estêvão Chaves recognised that, despite the increase in production, it is necessary for the beneficiaries to improve the irrigation systems, taking into account that a large part of this dry farming , prone to climate variations.
He announced shortly the expansion of the project to other provinces in the country, with a view to supporting more projects towards food self-sufficiency.
The Secretary of State for Agriculture and Livestock, João da Cunha, is paying a two-day visit to Malanje province to evaluate the agricultural enterprises financed by the PDAC and by the Family and Commercial Agriculture Project (MOSAP II). ACC/NC/PBC/NIC
