Rice production is more than 450 thousand tons below what is necessary – Jornal OPaís

In conversation with journalists, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry shows the need to increase the production of rice and fertilizers, but signals the need to achieve execution above the PDN target

Opaís produces a total of 20 thousand tons of rice per year, but consumes 500 thousand tons, which adds up to 480 thousand tons of missing product between national production and consumption, according to data released yesterday, in Luanda, by the Minister of Agriculture and Forests, António Francisco de Assis.

Thus, the Angolan State imports most of the volume of rice that Angolan families consume, at a time when, stated minister António Francisco de Assis, there are conditions to produce locally. “We have a climate and land that favor rice production, as is the case in certain areas of Uíge and Moxico”, said António Francisco de Assis, who added that this is exactly why the National Development Plan for Grain Production (PLANA – GRÃO) focuses on rice production.

The rice situation is the same picture of almost all national agricultural production which, as stated by the holder of the Agriculture portfolio, is dominated by family farming, and is showing signs of being unable to respond to the numerous challenges, as the data makes clear. The level of incapacity means that Angola spends 12 billion dollars per year on food imports alone.

The State incurred annual expenditure on agriculture of just over 198 million. Numbers below the 12 billion spent on importing food products, which led the minister to ask for reflection: “Imagine if all this money was used to increase our production”. A production that, as the data indicates, must always increase above 6% for us to think about achieving self-sufficiency.

On the other hand, the execution of the 2020 – 2021 agricultural plan was 320 thousand tons, registering an increase of 20% compared to the previous period and, most importantly, exceeding the targets established in the National Development Plan (PDN). In addition, the country is self-sufficient in products such as cassava, eggs, bananas, pineapple and goat meat, as shown in the data made available by the ministry and reinforced by the minister.

Need for 300 thousand tons of fertilizers

The data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry also draws attention to the level of fertilizer production that is around 18 thousand tons, between simple and compound fertilizers, when the need is around 300 thousand tons. As an aggravating factor, there is also the ratio called per capita fertilizer, which indicates the need for fertilizer that each person consumes. In this area, it is clear that the global rate is 62.5 kg per person, although the ideal, according to sector experts, is for each person to consume up to 25 kg of fertilizer per year.

And here Angola is at the bottom, as each Angolan consumes -3kg per person. In the wood segment, data from the Ministry indicate that 90 thousand cubic meters of wood were exported, making it clear that the warehouses built between 2018 and 2019 contributed greatly to the increase in control over the wood that is exported.

On the other hand, the ministry knows and, therefore, is fully aware of the honey production capacity, and there is even an intention to purchase it abroad. A good scenario that just doesn’t materialize because it is necessary to improve the production method, making it more sustainable and making it possible for us to have certified honey.

The minister’s words

When speaking to journalists, during the meeting called “conversation with journalists”, Minister António Francisco de Assis said that agriculture must be seen as key to this journey towards the diversification of the economy, which is why he does not understand why there is talk of so many things and little or almost none of agriculture. António Francisco de Assis was satisfied with the fact that the OGE proposal was looking at agriculture in a different way, as revenues were expected to be well above what has been usual.

The person in charge also spoke about the sector’s problems, which are those that everyone knows, but added that there are others, fundamentally those linked to logistics for agriculture, which are all imported, as well as the issue of human capital and the market. The person in charge went further and said that “we have to work to remove all the pressure from the sector from the producer and even the obligation of having to transport the product to the market or even to the final consumer”.

BY: Ladislau Francisco