The Executive Director of NGO HIAM Health, Rosaria Martins da Cruz, said Kmanek supermarket in the capital Dili, was prepared to stock the products of 12 horticulture groups based in the Ermera municipality.
The groups were established in 2012 and received business training from HIAM Health, with funding provided by Woodside Company.
This year Woodside ended its support in Ermera and in order to survive the groups need a market for their products to ensure their future sustainability.
“It was a positive meeting between HIAM Health, Woodside and Kmanek companies,” said Martins at her office in Aimutin, Dili.
She added that Hiam Health planned to arrange for farmers to meet with Kmanek to discuss their cooperation going forward.
Agricultural activities in Ermera municipality centre around growing vegetables and various fruits.
She said the groups were established to help raise awareness about nutrition and improve the families’ income.
As well as training, HIAM Health also provided technical support for group members, including water plumbing and agricultural materials.
However, poor road conditions in the region remains a major stumbling block to accessing markets for the groups.
Martins said Woodside would continue to support HIAM Health this year to implement horticulture programs in Aileu municipality.
Meanwhile, a representative of the farmer groups, Jacob Martins Albino, said the lack of markets meant farmers had little motivation to expand their agriculture activities, with many only producing enough for their family’s needs and to feed their animals.
“The Government has not yet provided the space for us to sell our goods,” he said.
He said people would be discouraged from pursuing agricultural activities if they were unable to make an income for their work.
Viqueque extension agent Feliciano Soares said difficulties in accessing markets was a problem faced by communities in all districts not only Ermera, with many struggling to find buyers for their products.
While some farmers like seed producers managed to sell their products to the government and international organizations, he said there was not yet an established market for food products.
“Last year, the Azelda company bought the farmers’ rice, but it is not doing that anymore,” Soares said.
