(Tetum) Taste-testing field days are valuable opportunities for MAF-SoL to find out the tastes and preferences of Timor-Leste’s farming communities; varieties on trial are either released, undergoing on-farm demonstration trials (OFDTs) or are in preliminary research stages.

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(Tetum) Many farmers appreciate the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ improved varieties of maize, rice, peanut, sweet potato and cassava because of their good characteristics – they are productive, locally adapted, can be replanted again, and yield well under traditional practices.

Today, on World Environment Day (5 June), let’s take a closer look in this infographic at how these released varieties are also helping reduce hunger in Timor-Leste while protecting the natural resources farmers rely on (water, soil, plants and animals) and improving biodiversity.

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In mid-2013, Seeds of Life conducted a mid-term survey to assess what progress had been made in the first two and a half years of the current phase of the program.

This survey — which was conducted in 55 sucos across the 13 districts, with visits to 672 households — showed that on average 25% of the crop farmers in Timor-Leste grow one or more improved varieties of a foodcrop. (more…)

Hooray for Hohrae: Guilerme’s story

On November 7, 2013, in English, Farmer case study, by Kate Bevitt
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(Tetum) Guilerme da Costa is farmer living in Bahu village, Baucau, who plants the three improved sweet potato varieties: Hohrae 1, Hohrae 2, and Hohrae 3.

He first got involved with the Seeds of Life program in 2009 when he was invited to grow the improved sweet potato varieties as part of an on-farm demonstration trial. (more…)