Working with Livelihoods for a Sustainable Future
Agriculture employs over 80 per cent of the Timor Leste population however production is typically low and food security an issue due to factors such as land degradation, a lack of irrigation and poor farming technologies.Timor Aid, with support from AECID and in partnership with Fundeso, is working to increase agricultural production in a sustainable way across a number of villages in the southern district of Manufahi.
The two-year project, which began in March 2010, involves working with 820 small farmers to diversify their crops and food production. This includes building fish farms, leading the construction and rehabiliitation of a canal irrigation system for rice cultivation in Sarin and the establishment of a village-based small manufactory for coconut oil extraction in Weberek. The project also includes creating seed banks and providing farming groups with better agricultural tools and equipment. Farmers and community members will also receive training to help ensure the sustainability of the new farming techniques.
