(Tetun) Women play a key role working alongside men in the fields – often weeding, watering and harvesting – and now women are increasingly becoming members and leaders of farming groups in Timor-Leste.
Research by the Food and Agriculture Organisation shows that when both women and men participate in farming, this helps eradicate hunger, provide food security and contribute to the livelihoods of rural communities. (more…)
(Tetum) Enterprising farmers groups across the country are discovering that the improved varieties released by MAF-SoL don’t just increase crop yields but are creating new money-making opportunities as well.
There’s no shortage in the diversity either with some groups selling Utamua peanuts to neighbouring farmers, others producing cassava chips from Ai-Luka varieties of cassava and others selling young sweet potato leaves of Hohrae varieties in local vegetable markets. (more…)
(Tetum) An outside table overflowing with colourful, fresh, locally produced fruits, vegetables and legumes on a warm tropical morning; the smell of cooking fish with fresh herbs and spices; the sound of bubbling pots, blending juices; and the buzz of an excited group of women and men cooking and learning for the benefit of their families. That was the setting for MAF-SoL’s newly rolled-out nutrition training held in Remexio, Aileu, on Friday 11 April. A lesson where participants can touch, taste and smell what they are learning about is no ordinary classroom activity! (more…)
(Tetum) “I am really happy to be involved in seed production with Seeds of Life, because since we started that my life has become better than before,” said Anina de Jesus, a peanut farmer living in Ritabou village, Maliana sub-district, Bobonaro district.
Anina is chief of the six-member contract grower group ‘Aselsam’ that produces certified seed of Utamua, the improved peanut variety released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) and sells it to MAF for use by other seed producers.
Since Anina first began planting the improved variety in 2008 she has had many positive changes in her life. (more…)
