Luanda – The World Bank has a portfolio of about USD 500 million for investments in the development of Angola’s agricultural sector, with emphasis on researches and investigations in this area.
The fact was made known this Friday, in Luanda, by the manager of the projects MOSAP3 and PDAC of the said institution, Izabela Leão.
Speaking at the round-table on “Research and Development, opportunities and challenges for the Farming Sector in Angola”, the source disclosed that among the projects it is included one turned to the Support of Family Agriculture and Trade (MOSAP3) and another dubbed Commercial Agriculture Development Project (PDAC).
Izabela Leão recognised the fact that Angola is the fifth main country in sub-saharan Africa in terms of agricultural potential.
She reminded also that only 10 per cent of arable lands in Angola are effectively cultivated, resulting in food insecurity and a modest contribution to the economy.
The farming sector in Angola, she revealed, was responsible for 10 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the last 20 years.
This sector, she explained, recorded an average growth rate of 5 per cent between 2029 and 2023, which is significantly below the country’s potential.
According to the manager, theAngolan Government has chosen agriculture and cattle-breeding to be among the main sectors intended to be boosters of the Executive’s economic diversification process, through its National Development Plan (PND2023-2027), which sets specific targets for the development of farming in the country.
With such goal, the government has been investing in the sector, including on the family and commercial producers.
“As an active partner of the Angolan Government, the World Bank has the commitment to supporting the farming sector and its producers”, she guaranteed.
During the round-table the participants exchanged experiences on MOSAP3, in the ambit of technological development perspective and the main actions to be taken.
HM/QCB/jmc
