By Laite Capuita Tito
Africa-Press – Angola. Moxico has, for four consecutive agricultural seasons, not received fertilizers from the Agrarian Development Support Fund (FADA), which makes it difficult to promote agriculture in Angola’s largest province in terms of territory.
In an interview, the head of department of the Provincial Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Office (GPAPP), Enoque Bernardo Cacoma explained that FADA aims to promote family farming, to promote production among rural women.
Family farming is currently responsible for 90% of national production, but there is “a sharp deficit” at the province level, due to the lack of FADA products, according to the interviewee.
Despite this, he highlighted that, in relation to the previous season, an increase in the harvest of over 400 tonnes is expected, with emphasis on cassava and corn.
Cacoma stated that FADA products are important in the process of nutrition and crop development.
Here is the interview in full:
– How many hectares of cultivated areas does the province have?
Enoque Cacoma (EC) – In the current 2023-2024 agricultural campaign, around 61,925 hectares were mobilized and sown.
– What are the main cultivation products and what was their quantity last year?
EC – The main cultivation products were cassava and corn. Last year production was 1,450,739.27 tons of cassava and 20,068.0 tons of corn
– What is your harvest forecast for the current agricultural season?
EC – For the current agricultural season, it is planned to harvest more than 1,819,362.00 tons of various products
– How is the province in terms of fertilizers. How many tons were distributed?
EC – In terms of fertilizers, there is a significant deficit at the province level, mainly due to the fact that products are not received from FADA.
– How many peasants and how many farms are currently registered in this district?
EC – We currently have registered a total of 199 cooperatives, of which 165 are in agriculture and 34 in continental fishing. We have a universe of 159,049 peasants.
– What steps are being taken to increase local agricultural production?
EC – The steps being taken to increase agricultural production include monitoring through the IDA and the municipal departments of agriculture, livestock and fisheries, providing technical support to peasant families, and the implementation of Farmers’ Field Schools (ECA), so that peasants learn to incorporate appropriate and sustainable techniques that aim to improve the management of the exploitation of soil resources and increase production.
– In terms of fisheries, what are your catch averages and how many tons were fished last year?
EC – In this chapter, the annual average catch of various fish is approximately 162,702.85 tons.
Last year, around 42,831.4 tons of various fish were caught.
ANGOP journalist
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