Africa-Press – Angola. A cooperative of peasant families made up of 200 people, in the commune of Quicombo, municipality of Sumbe, province of Cuanza-Sul, is committed to growing onions, with the arrival of the Cacimbo season, suitable for planting this vegetable.
The farmers, specifically located in Wembele, work in an area of 15 to 20 hectares. They are currently in the preparation and land demarcation phase, with a forecast of harvesting between two and three tons of onions, as well as other seasonal products, such as tomatoes.
In a report, peasant Lucas Capingano said that the cooperative seeks, at this time, to obtain the greatest yield from the land to increase production both for consumption and for the commercialization of products, which are normally sold in large supermarkets and markets. from Luanda and Benguela.
Lucas Capingano also revealed that despite their desire, farmers in the town of Wembele face difficulties in acquiring fertilizers, agricultural inputs, insecticides and others, due to the high prices charged on the local market. The commune of Quicombo is an agricultural and livestock potential in the municipality, which has water and arable land for the production of onions, as well as other plantations, being one of the brands of the area, and despite the difficulties, it bodes well for a good result at the end of the current season..
For the program to be effective, farmers dedicate themselves to aligning and forming the seedbeds, recovering the pipes to ensure the irrigation system that culminates in the seed being thrown into the ground.
More support
The farmer also took the opportunity to call for the creation of control mechanisms, reinforcing the supervision of incentives that are made available to programs and projects aimed at supporting organized peasant families, and beyond.
“It is necessary to monitor the agricultural incentive system more so that the production process is not interrupted due to a lack of seeds, electric pumps, irrigation tubes, inputs and means for mechanizing the fields”, he warned.
Julieta Laurindo is another peasant, lives in the commune of Quicombo, owning three hectares for the production of onions and other products. She aims to achieve good results at the end of the agricultural season.
“I’m investing in the work because I know that the commune offers arable land and water, conditions suitable for onion production, and that it requires a viable irrigation system”, he highlighted.
Julieta Laurindo made it known that, in addition to growing onions, she will plant banana trees, another stronghold in the locality, as well as other vegetables such as cabbage, kale, okra and others.
Regarding the difficulties, Julieta Laurindo said that, like her, other farmers in the Wembele locality face financial difficulties, the lack of agricultural inputs, all due to the high costs of seed, fertilizers and agricultural materials. There is a need for the Executive, with particular emphasis on the Agriculture sector, to subsidize all agricultural means and materials, as a way of easing prices for farmers, and the measure can guarantee an increase in production.
In relation to bank credits, the peasant asks for more flexibility and with regard to the Geographical and Cadastral Institute of Angola (IGCA), the process of legalizing land for agricultural purposes, and the revitalization of old ones and construction of new irrigation channels, aiming to maximize food production, both for food security and commercialization.
The young Dionísio Domingos is also part of the group of peasants who are committed to onion production and assured that he has already prepared a space to plant the seed in the ground.
“We have everything ready so that there are no errors during the planting of onions, with three hectares available, and our desire is to achieve good results”, he said, for whom agriculture is a task that after sowing the seed requires a commitment to constant presence. , dedication and control during seed development.
Dionísio Domingos, who coordinates a group of six farmers assigned to the Wembele cooperative, acknowledged that there had been some support, although it was far from meeting the needs.
“Our cooperative has already benefited from some support such as corn and bean seeds, as well as fertilizers that are purchased at reasonable prices through the Agriculture sector”, he highlighted.
The peasant pointed out as main difficulties the acquisition of insecticides, machines for preparing land, the acquisition of agricultural inputs and others, remembering, as an example, that a 500 gram can of onions is being sold on the local market at the price 45 to 50 thousand kwanzas, while 100 grams is around 12 to 15 thousand kwanzas.
“Prices are high, which forces us to dedicate ourselves temporarily to fishing to acquire these inputs”, he concluded.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
