Africa-Press – Angola. Experts from the international consulting firm PwC highlighted on Tuesday in Luanda, that government policies and the evolution of the Angolan agricultural market have created real conditions for the first time to develop a national supply chain for agricultural inputs in the country.
The experts also identified these policies and the growth of the agricultural market as the driving forces behind the development of the production chain for agricultural inputs in Angola.
Speaking on the topic “National Fertilizer and Input Chain: Paths to Productive Autonomy” at the 8th E&M Conference on Agriculture, PWC Angola director Mauricio Brito said the National Development Plan prioritizes agricultural production, along with other programs.
Brito said that the National Training Plan for Grain Production (Planagrão), exemption and reduction of customs duties, public tenders for the acquisition of fertilizers, and other initiatives have stimulated private investment and encouraged more young people to engage in agricultural activities.
Brazilian agribusiness expert Fabio Pereira identified the intensification of local industrialization, innovation, and research; the revitalization of logistics and intelligence networks; and the attraction of private investment and technical training as the main challenges for Angola to achieve self-sufficiency in the medium term.
Anderson Jeronimo, the director of the Office of Studies and Planning (GEPE) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, reiterated that the government has secured more than 150,000 tons of fertilizer, as well as the additional 800,000 tons needed.
According to the official, the country has taken concrete steps to produce quantities sufficient for domestic consumption. Currently, it has eight mixing plants and two fertilizer industries that use national raw materials.
“In the coming years, Angola will gain at least two large fertilizer factories, which will significantly reduce imports and boost domestic production,” he asserted.
The magazine Economia e Mercado is promoting the event to analyze and identify mechanisms to increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector and provide opportunities for young people, companies, and agricultural regions.
This edition focused on the theme of the “National Fertilizer and Agricultural Input Industry,” addressing topics such as the construction of the production chain, the efficient use of inputs, soil sustainability, and integration with the agro-industry.
Topics related to biofuels, the role of agriculture in the energy transition and economic diversification, large-scale production from energy crops, and value creation in rural areas were also included in the session.
Forest concessions and the sustainable management of natural resources were central to the debates, which focused on ecosystem conservation and responsible economic development.
