Paulina Quintao – There are concerns that the country's farmers are losing their passion for agricultural work and that production is now in serious decline.
The General Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), Cesar Jose da Cruz, said that although the government provided equipment, farmers were often reluctant to expand their operations.
"Our farmers stop farming and do other things, it is a big obstacle faced by the ministry," said da Cruz at the Timor Ag2016 conference held at Novo Turismo Hotel in Dili last month.
To reverse the trend he said a number of factors needed to be prioritized, including irrigation, farm equipment, seed and fertilizer distribution and increasing farmers' capacity.
Despite the government distributing tractors and seeds to farmers, as well as placing extension agents in the sukus (villages), da Cruz said farmers showed little passion for agricultural activities.
However, he said the ministry and its developments partners continued to make efforts to address the challenges and improve food production. From 2006 to 2009, the government allocated $16 million for the purchase of tractors to help improve food production across the country.
Since then the ministry has provided more than 2000 tractors to farmers, but da Cruz said there had been little improvement as many were were not in working order.
Data also shows that between 2008 and 2014 the government allocated $59 million for irrigation rehabilitation projects across the country.
However, extension agent Feliciano Soares said some of the government's programs were actually a disencentive for farmers to work. "Our government has provided funds for the farmers, [so] it means that we teach them not to work because they can just rely on the funds," he said.Lack of access to markets for their produce was another obstacle faced by farmers, with many opting instead to rely on their pensions rather than continue with their farming activities, he said.