The Chief of Party USAID’s Project for Advanced Agriculture, Nicholas Richards said the project which has been implemented in the municipalities of Aileu, Ainaro, Bobonaro, Ermera and Dili has helped communities tackle malnutrition rates across the country.
He said that based on world figure for malnutrition standards, Timor-Leste’s children and women are among the least able to access nutritious foods.
“Our project aims to improve agricultural production to increase the community’s production and to improve the community’s nutrition,” said CoP Richards, in Dili.
He also acknowledged even though the project has not been able to eradicate malnutrition in the country, it has been able to least reduce it.
“If it has worked in the five municipalities; what we are hoping is that others will follow suit,” he added.
Part of his project’s contribution also is to share their lessons learnt with farmers so that they are knowledgeable about planting crops that provide adequate nutrition in particular to children and women.
Meantime, the Deputy President of the National Parliament Member of Parliament MP Aderito Hugo added diversifying crops to improve nutrition rates in the country is of extreme importance.
“Improving food quality for contribution to nutrition especially of children and women,” DP Hugo said.
He also urged USAID’s Advanced Agriculture Project to work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to assure the project’s continuity.
