Guinea-Bissau’s Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Fatumata Djau Balde, took part in the 16th
meeting of the multidisciplinary team of the FAO Subregional Office for West Africa, which is currently taking place in Praia, Cape Verde.
In an interview with APA, she discusses the agricultural issues in Guinea-Bissau, the challenges related to food security and the inspiring experiences shared during this subregional meeting.
Madam Minister, you are currently participating in the 16th meeting of the multidisciplinary team of the FAO Subregional Office in Cape Verde. An initial reaction to the work in which you took part?
Thank you for this opportunity. My first impression is that FAO demonstrates a high level of organization. This is not only here in Cape Verde, but through its annual strategy of bringing together all its offices with the relevant partners. This allows us to take into account the major concerns of countries in terms of food security,
social protection and collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture. This synergy allows us to develop a more effective annual intervention programme.
In Guinea-Bissau, what are the main concerns in terms of social protection?
Guinea-Bissau is a country where more than 80% of the population depends on agriculture. This sector is not only the basis, but the very essence of our economy. Our priority is to improve agricultural production, particularly rice, which is at the heart of our diet. We have the capacity to produce rice three times a year thanks to an efficient irrigation system, but the lack of financing remains a major challenge.
Financing seems to be a recurring problem. What other challenges have you identified?
Financing is indeed crucial, but there is also a lack of infrastructure for the conservation and processing of agricultural products. For example, women, who are the majority in agriculture, produce in large quantities but cannot sell everything due to the lack of conservation systems. This leads to considerable losses.
Furthermore, the processing of products, such as cashew nuts, remains limited. We export 98 percent of this product in raw form, which reduces its added value and local employment opportunities. Finally, agricultural mechanization is insufficient to meet our ambitions to increase production.
Land is also a challenge for women in West Africa. How does this manifest itself in Guinea-Bissau?
It is a reality. Although the laws guarantee equal access to land, challenges persist. Women need to be better informed about their rights in order to claim them. In Guinea-Bissau, we have taken concrete measures. For example, in the areas where we work with women, we legalise land in their name before any agricultural project. This protects their rights and allows them to practice their activity with peace of mind.
Can these initiatives inspire other countries in the sub-region?
Absolutely. Our policy of legalizing land for women is an experience that we are happy to share. We have also introduced solar systems to keep agricultural products on the market and programs to retain young people in rural areas through financial, logistical and technical support. These initiatives can be adapted by other countries.
Did you learn from the experiences of other countries at this meeting?
Yes. For example, we learned strategies for horticulture during the rainy season, a challenge in our country due to flooding. These practices will inspire us to improve our own production.
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