Angola bets on local rice production to cut down imports  

ANGOLA – The Republic of Angola has committed to support rice production in the country in a bid to reduce imports and cut financial burden.

João Cunha, the Secretary of State for Agriculture and Livestock revealed this in Dombe Grande, during the presentation of the results of the first technical trials with upland rice in highlands, at the Nelson Rodrigues Agro-Pecuária Farm (NR).

João Cunha stated that the Government is doing everything so that the country can increase the production of rice for consumption, aiming to reduce imports.

“Rice is today one of the extremely important foods, which weighs heavily in our basic food basket to feed the population”, he said

Currently, rice production in Angola is still in deficit, a situation that leads the country to spend large financial resources on importing large quantities to guarantee domestic consumption.

To reverse the scenario, the Government is implementing the National Plan to Promote Grain Production (Planagrão), which aims to increase production to up to 3.14 million tons of rice, wheat, soybeans, corn and beans, in five years.

According to the director, the suspension of rice exports from India, the world’s largest producer, is driving up prices on the international market, which is an opportunity for Angola to invest in domestic production. 

Regarding the Government’s support for the business and family agricultural sector, he highlighted technical assistance, the reduction in the price of agricultural inputs and financing, so that more and more can be produced.

To this end, he highlighted the operationalization of the Credit Guarantee Fund (FGC), the Development Bank of Angola (BDA) and the Agrarian Development Support Fund (FADA), which have granted credits so that farmers can produce without major difficulties.

Another incentive, he said, is the definition of a minimum price for rice, which will benefit producers without the means to sell it, since the Government will be able to buy the cereal at a price that will not harm production.

He also listed the technical support of the Agricultural Research Institute and the Agricultural Development Institute (IDA), so that it can be cultivated correctly, with a technological package more suited to this crop and, thus, providing satisfactory yields to create more jobs and social well-being.

Important milestone

For the Secretary of State, the “Highland Rice Field Day” is an important milestone and also contributes to the objective of producing quality rice in the country, to feed the population and create wealth.

In his opinion, the act was of great importance, because new varieties of rice were tested, which will increase the productivity and income of producers.

“The information leads us to believe that we have very interesting results, which will allow farmers and peasants in Dombe Grande to also produce rice locally in large quantities”, he noted.

According to João, this great agricultural revolution, focusing on rice production, is already happening in other provinces, such as Malanje, Uíge, Moxico, Cuando Cubango, Huambo and Bié.

“We would be very pleased if this also happened here in the province of Benguela, particularly in the Dombe Grande valley”, he proposed.

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