Handover Ceremony of FAO’s Pro-Resilience Project Agricultural Devices in Betano
FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) held a ceremony at Betano Agriculture Research Centre, Manufahi Municipality, on 11 October 2019 to handover the hand-tractors and roles under the Pro-Resilience project to the farmers groups and MAF Agriculture Directorates in 6 targeted Municipalities. The event was attended by the Municipality Administrator of Manufahi - Mr. Arantes Isaac Sarmento, the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries - Dr. Claudino Nabais who is also the Director of Agriculture Research of MAF, the FAO’s Pro-Resilience project Team Leader - Mr. Raphy Favre, the Chief Cabinet of the Minister of Agriculture - Mr. Édio Mariano, MAF Agriculture Directors of Ainaro, Covalima, Manufahi and Viqueque, 24 Chefes du Gupu representing 24 Farmers Groups who received the hand-tractors and rollers, staffs of the Betano Agriculture Research Centre and from FAO, and farmers from Suco Betano.The Municipality Administrator of Manufahi, in his opening remarks, he said “through this event I want to say Thank you to FAO, who have supported our farmers in some Municipalities with Conservation Agriculture; now each Farmer Group will receive a hand-tractor and 2-wheel roller, but most importantly, this is a handover of responsibility to our farmers and the Directorates of Agriculture to continue what FAO has taught”.
In total, 24 hand-tractors and 24 2-wheel roles were handed over to 24 farmers groups in Ainaro, Covalima, Manufahi and Viqueque Municipalities who have been implementing Conservation Agriculture (CA) in their Sucos and 12 4-wheel rollers to MAF Agriculture Directorates in 6 targeted Municipalities (Ainaro, Covalima, Manatuto, Manufahi, Lautém and Viqueque). These agricultural devices will help the farmers to reduce their time working in the field. Applying CA means, farmers do not plough the land, no burning and using of legume crops to cover the land.
By applying CA, farmers will preserve their land, increase soil fertility and increase agriculture productivity, reduce workload and reduce agriculture production cost that subsequently increases farmers income. These agriculture machines are very practical and easy to operate by farmers. Farmers were very enthusiastic to receive such agricultural equipment as these tools will help them in their daily work. All Parties including the Chefes du Grupu, MAF Agriculture Directors and FAO’s Pro-Resilience project Team Leader signed the mutual Agreement before handed over the agricultural devices to the Farmers Groups.