Africa-Press – Angola. Reinforcement of financing in the productive sector and training of staff is pointed out by several specialists as a key factor that can contribute to increasing the national production of food products and, consequently, meeting the real needs of the domestic market.
According to the director of the Office of Studies, Planning and Statistics (GEPE) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Anderson Jerónimo, the country “does not produce enough to meet the real needs of the population”, which grows 3.5% per year, with a birth rate of 5%.
As a result, the official, who was speaking at one of the debate panels on “Investment in agribusiness in Angola”, within the scope of the V Economy & Market Conference, held this Wednesday in Luanda, considered it necessary to create conditions for the increased public and private investment in the agricultural sector.
Another decisive factor for the increase in production by this technician is the training of family producers or small farmers, as it is the fringe that concentrates most of the national production.
Also in line with the same thought is the president of the Agricultural Association of Angola (AAPA), Wanderley Ribeiro, pointing to the increase in national production as a fundamental factor to increasingly reduce imports of food products.
According to this producer, the volume of imports of products, such as wheat, rice and corn, registered a significant increase in 2022, compared to the previous period (2021). For example, wheat increased by 40%, milk (54%) and chicken (80%).
In his opinion, this increase is increasingly expressive because the process of importing food from Angola “is not taking national production into account”, since, almost every week, his association receives complaints from producers who are unable to sell their products. assets.
For Wanderley Ribeiro, national production must have its place reserved (market guarantee) and imports must complement the deficit of local production.
The national director of Industry, César da Cruz, pointed out the timidity of the banking sector and the lack of agricultural insurance in the country as other conditioning factors for the increase in national production.
On the other hand, the Executive Director of AIPEX, José Gama, considered the high production costs and excessive concentration only in the production of some goods as factors that delay the increase in agricultural cultivation.
Under the motto “Agro-industry, the Strategic Food Reserve (REA) and the reasons why we continue to depend on imports”, the 5th Economy & Market Conference on agriculture was attended by businessmen, producers, bankers, specialists and representatives of the Angolan government.
Divided into two panels, participants at the event reflected on the themes: “Investment in agribusiness in Angola”, “Map of national production and the pillars for food sustainability” and “Warning 10 and the promotion of national production”.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
