(Tetum) Seeds of Life has successfully piloted business plan training last month for three farmers’ associations that sell commercial seed, and now plans to nationally roll-out the training in 2014.

Training sessions were held for three established farmers’ associations to help build their skills in managing group activities, finances and the marketing of seed. (more…)

(Tetum) Olandina da Costa is the chief of Community Seed Production Group (CSPG) Bilbeu in Guico village, Maubara sub-district, Liquiça. The group was established in 2011 and has the unique feature that all 10 members are women.

The group receives assistance from the Suco Extension Officer (SEO) in their village, Bartolomeu da Silva.

“When I visited this group in 2011 they were planting vegetables. I asked them to form a CSPG and eventually they decided to form a group of all women members. The head of the group is also a woman” (more…)

(Tetum) Twelve farmers’ associations in Baucau, Lautem and Viqueque received their official MAF Seed Department registration certificates qualifying them as Commercial Seed Producers (CSPs) last week, bringing the total of registered producers nationwide to 31.

 That’s a 10 times expansion of the three initial CSPs licensed to produce seed last cropping. (more…)

(Tetum) MAF-SoL has been researching the positive impacts of growing Lehe, velvet bean in English, in cornfields to improve soil fertility.  Lehe is a legume that fixes nitrogen in the soil, increases organic matter and creates a mulch cover that smothers weeds. (more…)

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