Luanda: The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Isaac dos Anjos, concluded his two-day visit to the Icolo e Bengo province, focusing on evaluating the operational and production capacities of agricultural fields and poultry farms. His visit included inspections in the municipalities of Cabiri, Catete, and Bom Jesus, where he engaged with local farmers and poultry breeders to understand their challenges.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the minister's visit highlighted several pressing issues faced by local agricultural producers. Among these, the silting of irrigation ditches in the Bom Jesus Valley emerged as a significant impediment to farming activities. Additionally, farmers voiced concerns over the scarcity and high costs of fertilizers and animal feed, which are impacting their production capabilities.
The Mumba Farm, part of the Quiminha Agro Project in Cabiri, produces 15 tons of animal feed per hour. Despite this capacity, many neighboring farmers continue to report shortages and elevated prices. Carlos Pam, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GESTERRA, emphasized the need for improved coordination to address these pricing issues.
Efforts are underway by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to rehabilitate old irrigation canals nationwide, aiming to support family farmers and enhance agricultural productivity. This initiative is expected to resolve some of the operational challenges faced by farmers in the region.
During his visit, Isaac dos Anjos also toured several poultry farms, including West Aves, Agro Noble, Agroko, and Agrobal, which are key producers of poultry and eggs. Izi Garcia, coordinator of the West Aves Farm, highlighted their production of 1.5 million chicks per month, sufficient to meet national demand. She advocated for the establishment of a slaughterhouse to support the growing poultry industry and expressed optimism about Angola's potential for self-sufficiency in chicken meat production.
Similarly, Lus Palanga, manager of Agrobal Farm, which spans 1,000 hectares, noted their monthly release of 120,000 birds to the market. The farm also engages in raising cattle, goats, and other species. However, like others in the industry, he called for the development of poultry slaughterhouses to manage the overcrowding in facilities due to aging livestock.