Luanda - Angola currently has 10 milling companies that secure the processing of 1.3 million tons of wheat flour, an output that exceeds the needs of the domestic market estimated at 700,000 tons per year, the chairperson of the Angolan Wheat Flour Producers Association (APFTA) César Rasgado said Tuesday.
Cesar Rasgado disclosed the information during a meeting between the Angolan government and business people of the wheat flour production and distributors of a wide range of goods.
"We have 10 mills operating and with product available, although its distribution does not depend solely on the producers, but on other players, such as distributors. Therefore, I reiterate that there is enough wheat flour production of the desired quality to supply the national market and perhaps export the surplus," Rasgado said.
Rasgado added that most of the product can be used to supply bakeries nationwide at a reasonable cost that guarantees the production of bread without any impediment.
Kidy Aragão, manager of the Induve S. A mill, said that along with wheat flour, the installed capacity for processing corn flour of the mill is of around 800,000 metric tons per year, while the annual consumption revolves around 400,000 tons.
Aragão added that the import of raw material for processing products is one of the main reasons for the price hike of this product on the domestic market.
Government and entrepreneurs aligned on food safety
According to the Minister of Industry and Trade, Rui Miguêns de Oliveira, the Angolan government and businesspeople in the production area are aligned in guaranteeing food security in the country, based essentially on the exploitation of existing production capacity and encouraging the cultivation of new products.
The minister underlined that to encourage the exploration of new production areas involves the continuity and stability of national production and import of goods less produced or insufficient to meet the country's real needs.
As regard to the constant rise in prices of widely consumed products, the minister pointed to variations in the international market as one of the reasons why raw materials and foodstuffs, both domestic and imported, are so expensive.
Given this scenario, the minister said, there is an urgent need to continue increasing production and gradually replacing imports of raw materials to reduce exposure factors on the international market and reduce price volatility.
"The stability of national production, in order to ensure a reduction in the prices of the main food products, will not be achieved in the short term, as it requires the commitment of all the operators in the production chain, whose implementation of this process is on the right track, given the commitment of most entrepreneurs to national production," the minister said.
The minister stressed that the government aims that the existing production units in the country secure the supply of essential goods to meet the real needs of the domestic market.
Rui Oliveira said that top priority is given to agricultural and industrialized goods that are widely consumed, such as rice, wheat, sugar and vegetable oil, among others.
The minister underscored that the aim is that part of the food products will be supplied by national producers, a process that should include the contribution and participation of distribution companies.
The meeting between members of the government and businesspeople aimed to identify the insufficiencies or gaps in the national production chain, industrialization and distribution of the main products in Angola's basic food basket.
It sought the best solutions to resolve the constraints that operators have faced in their production activities. QCB/PPA/AMP
