Government provides agricultural equipment to Bobonaro, Ainaro and Covalima municipalities « Government of Tim-Leste

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão presided over today, August 15, 2024, the official ceremony of the handover of agricultural equipment to the municipalities of Bobonaro, Ainaro and Covalima. The initiative aims to strengthen the agricultural production capacity of these municipalities, contributing to the improvement of productivity and the development of the agricultural sector in the country.

During the ceremony, the Prime Minister expressed his belief that the new equipment will have a positive impact on local farmers. “With the advanced equipment purchased by the government with the support of the World Bank, we are taking an important step towards increasing the production capacity of farmers, thereby promoting sustainable development in rural communities,” said Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao.

Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry Secretary Marcos da Cruz stressed that the purchase of the equipment is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to modernize the agricultural sector. “This is an important milestone in our mission to support farmers. With the introduction of modern machinery such as tractors, tillers and planters, we are reducing the time spent in the fields and making agricultural operations more efficient,” the minister stressed.

The equipment, which includes 38 manual tractors, 103 planters and 23 tillers, was purchased through the World Bank-funded Sustainable Agricultural Productivity Improvement Project (SAPIP), which began in 2016 and initially benefited seven municipalities. Today’s delivery marks the expansion of this support to the municipalities of Bobonaro, Ainaro and Covalima.

“This is the first phase of distribution. The other four municipalities will also receive their equipment soon. We are coordinating closely with the municipalities to ensure that the equipment reaches the farmers who need it most”, added Marcos da Cruz.

The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Carbuadi Ley and other members of the 9th Constitutional Government, the President of the RAEOA Administration, Rogério Tiago Lobato, the Coordinator of the ZEEDOA Executive Committee, João Mendes Gonçalves, representatives from the World Bank and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry.