Luanda – The Head of State, João Lourenço, revealed on Monday in Luanda Province that this year the Angolan government expects agricultural production to exceed 24 million tonnes of various products.
The President of the Republic, who was speaking about the State of the Nation at the National Assembly, said that the provisional data on agricultural and cattle breeding production for 2023 show positive indicators, with growth expected in terms of overall volumes in all crop sectors, surpassing the growth of 2022, which stood at 5.7% compared to 2021.
He said that the agricultural results are due to the family farming and took the opportunity to praise and recognize everyone´s efforts because it has helped to consolidate the hope of achieving the countries' food security objectives.
The statesman expressed his happiness towards the current agricultural campaign with the start of wheat production by around 3,320 families, as well as the involvement of entrepreneurs from different provinces, adding that although it is small the expected production proves that it is possible to reverse the situation of wheat imports by exploiting the country's agricultural potential to the limit.
He highlighted the different products which were presented during the Fair of the Municipalities and Cities of Angola, which took place in the city of Lubango, southern Huíla Province’s capital, and encouraged other national and foreign entrepreneurs to take advantage of the country's opportunities and potential.
According to him, 461 agricultural cooperatives benefited from the programme related to the distribution of 500 tractors, representing a total of 36,315 members, adding that through the Production Support, Export Diversification and Import Substitution Program (PRODESI), under the supervision of the Agrarian Development Support Fund (FADA), 24 cooperatives have approved funding, while 232 already benefited from the respective disbursements and 472 received training.
As an immediate result, he pointed out, the average cultivated area increased from 20 to 59 hectares per cooperative, with the use of tractors, greater crop diversification as a result of joining field schools and community boxes, as well as leveraging family farming by supporting small farmers in preparing their land.
Coffee production
On the occasion, the President of the Republic acknowledged that the relaunch of coffee production is already beginning to bear fruit, with the volume of production having risen to 5,000 tonnes in 2022, which represents 1% more than in 2021.
At the moment, he said that around four million seedlings are being produced in various provinces of the country, which will allow for the planting of 2.350 hectares.
Also in this regard, João Lourenço recalled that the Project to Improve the Performance and Growth of the Coffee Value Chain "MUCAFÉ" will be implemented, with funding from the French Development Agency (FDA), to increase the volume of production, improve productivity, quality and make it possible for producers to articulate and promote exports.
For João Lourenço, it is necessary to increase national production and reduce external dependence on products with the potential and capacity to be produced locally, with the aim of satisfying domestic needs and increasing the volume and diversity of products to be exported.
To this end, he said that the country needs an increasingly strong business sector, capable of understanding its role in society and in a position to cooperate with the state so that Angola can have a strong and sustained economy.
He said that the state would continue to prioritise the continuous improvement of the business environment and the creation of incentives to boost the economy.
In this regard, he pointed out that, for the agricultural season starting this month, a line of credit had been made available for the first time to private domestic commercial producers, and a guarantee scheme had been set up for the purchase of some widely consumed rural products produced in the country.
The Head of State pointed out that the Credit Guarantee Fund, the Venture Capital Fund, the Agricultural Development Support Fund and the Angolan Development Bank itself had been boosted to continue supporting national production, particularly in the context of the National Plan for the Promotion of Grain Production (PLANAGRÃO), the National Plan for the Promotion of Fisheries (PLANAPESCAS) and the National Plan for Livestock roduction Development (PLANAPECUÁRIA).
To him, the best incentive for production is first to consume what is produced in the country, which is why the government is working to make it compulsory to include goods and equipment produced in Angola in investment contracts or the acquisition of goods by public organisations, whenever these goods are available.
"The road to transforming our economy is long, but it is being drawn with the vision, conviction and dedication of all the citizens of our country. Achieving food security is a goal within our reach, if we realise that we need to work harder, to produce more, because just complaining doesn't bring bread to our table," he warned.
Cattle
In the cattle breeding sector, President João Lourenço said that from January to June this year 103,721 tonnes of meat were produced, an absolute increase of 1,75 tonnes compared to the same period last year.
On the other hand, he said, it is hoped to reduce dependence on animal vaccine imports with the construction of the Biodiversity Centre and Vaccine Factory for cattle, poultry and goats in Huambo province, which is expected to be completed within the planned time frame.
For the forestry sector, the Head of the Executive Power emphasised the continued encouragement of the emergence of new segments of the country's manufacturing industry, pointing out that the government had recently taken the step of banning the export of unprocessed wood.
The aim is for the wood processing industry to emerge and develop in Angola, so that the country is no longer an exporter of raw materials but an exporter of finished products, with added value that ensures employment, with a view to improving the protection of forests against indiscriminate logging.
Fisheries
To the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, due to the sea coast of 1,650 kilometres and vast potential for continental fishing, Angola has the basic conditions for fishing to contribute more to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by creating more jobs, particularly for young people,
He said that the fishing sector currently contributes around 3.6 per cent to the non-oil Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and it is estimated that it employs around 80,000 people in the formal and informal sectors, of which around 75% are artisanal fisher people.
According to him, in the first half of this year, extractive fishing produced 311,472 tonnes, an increase of around 8% on the same period last year.
Aquaculture production in the first half of the year also showed significant growth, with 4,123 tonnes produced, compared to 1,50 tonnes in the same period last year, due to the entry of more projects.
He considered the need to improve the sector's regulations, increase rigour in complying with the law and reform the fisheries and aquaculture inspection services in order to fight illegal fishing, guarantee the sustainability of marine resources and promote food safety.
On the other hand, he said that salt production in 2022 was 220,932 tonnes, and it is estimated that in 2023 it will grow to more than 248,000 tonnes.
The presentation of the Message on the State of the Nation, as the constitution demands, marked the opening of the 5th Legislature of the Parliament.
QCB/AC/MRA/jmc
