Ondjiva – About 4,000 peasants from the municipalities of Curoca, Cahama, Cuvelai, Cuanhama and Ombadja, in Cunene province, are grouped in 81 farming field schools (ECA), implemented by the Resilience and Food and Nutritional Security Strengthening Project (FRESAN).
The information was provided on Thursday by the deputy coordinator of FRESAN in Cunene, Juan Molina, noting that since the implementation of the project in 2018, schools are being attended by more than four thousand peasants, who have benefited from instructions on agricultural practices.
Juan Molina stated that the objective is to reduce hunger, poverty, food and nutritional insecurity, by strengthening families' resilience and sustainable agricultural production.
He made it known that farmers regularly benefit from seeds and working tools to increase the production of products such as vegetables, tubers and cereals, aiming to contribute to the food security of the most vulnerable communities in the dry season.
He highlighted the integration of several families from the Koisans tribe, from the Oshimolo commune, included in seven field schools dedicated to cereal production, as well as others from the Muakahona, Mushimba and Vátuas communities, in the municipality of Curoca.
In Curoca, he said that agricultural practice constitutes a great challenge, due to the climatic conditions, which is why the use of an irrigation field is required, using underground water capture systems, which has allowed communities to have foods access.
According to the one in charge, the project constitutes a valid means of instruction and education for the rural community, on good agricultural and livestock practices, culinary demonstrations, through participatory methodology, where peasants learn to exchange experiences and interact.
At the field school, he added, farmers also acquire knowledge of soil management, conservation and profitability, through different methods of rotating products to be cultivated and at different times.
Launched in 2018, FRESAN has a global value of €64 million, financed by the European Union, of which €48.6 million euros, managed by the Camões Institute.
The initiative is part of a joint effort by the European Union, Camões Institute and the Angola's Government, to promote the sustainability of family farming, food and nutritional security, especially in communities.
Its objective is to contribute to the reduction of hunger, poverty and vulnerability to food and nutritional insecurity, through the sustainable strengthening of family farming in the provinces of Cunene, Huíla and Namibe. FI/LHE/AC/CF/DOJ
