Reference Date: 8-February-2013
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FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
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Good rains over the main producing areas for the current cropping season
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The 2012 cereal harvest estimated to reach new record levels
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Reduced cereal imports during 2012/13 forecast
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Overall food security conditions are improving but localised food insecurity still persists
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Good rains over the main producing areas for the current cropping season
Planting of the 2012 main season maize crop was completed in December, while that of main season paddy will continue into February. Assuming normal weather pattern for the rest of the season, early prospects are favourable as rainfall so far has been above average over the main producing areas of the country.
The 2012 cereal harvest estimated to reach new record levels
Harvesting of the 2012 main paddy crop was completed in July, while that of secondary off season crop was finalised by December. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) has forecast the 2012 aggregate rice paddy production at a record level of 153 606 tonnes, some 57 percent higher than the previous year’s above-average output. Similarly, the 2012 total maize production, harvested by November, has been officialy estimated at a record level of 156 033 tonnes. This is about five times higher than the flood-affected output in 2011. The 2012 aggregate cereal production (main season and off-season) is estimated at a record level of 310 000 tonnes, marking a considerable increase of 140 percent relative to the previous year’s poor output. The significant increase in 2012 production is a combined result of an expansion in the planted area by 18 percent for the paddy crop and 10 percent for maize, increased use of high quality seeds and adoption of new technologies including newly imported machinery. These initiatives were implemented through the Ministry of Agricutlure and Fisheries’s Fila Rai Gratiutu program, which aims to enhance agricultural productivity.
Reduced imports during 2012/13 forecast
Owing to the record aggregate cereal production in 2012, the cereal imports for 2012/13 marketing year (July/June) are forecast to be the lowest in the last decade. Crop monitoring and production estimation in Timor-Leste is currently being strengthened with a new EU funded FAO project which established a National Information and Early Warning System (NIEWS) in early 2012.
Overall food security conditions are improving but localized food insecurity still persists
Recently, Timor-Leste graduated out of the group of Low-Income and Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDC), the main reason being an increase in the per capita gross national income (GNI) to USD 2 730 in 2011 from USD 395 in 2002 (according to the World Bank estimates). Overall, the food security situation in the country has improved following the 2012 record cereal harvest and relatively regular supplies of food to the local markets. However, pest infestation had led to some localised crop losses, particularly impacting important cereal producing districs of Ainaro, Bobonaro, Manatuto and Oecusse and thus access to food remains a major challenge in the upland and remotely located villages.