The international technical cooperation mission constituted by the São Francisco and Parnaíba Valleys Development Company (Codevasf) and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) for activities in Angola achieved a series of results during its stay in the African country, in the months of June and July. Codevasf technicians who were part of the mission trained 24 Angolan experts and students, disseminating regional development experiences based on irrigated and rainfed agriculture.
Among the actions carried out by the Codevasf team in the South African country, the presentation of a report to the governor of the Province of Cunene, Gerdina Didalelwa, stands out. The document contains data on the results achieved with the work carried out in the Cafu Canal region. The Company's professionals also visited the laboratory of the Geological Institute of Angola (IGEO) and the Geographic and Cadastral Institute of Angola (IGCA).
“It was a remarkable moment for Codevasf to participate in this commitment and be able to cross borders, oceans and share its knowledge with a friendly country, which has an important relationship with Brazil”, says the director of the Irrigation and Operations Area at Codevasf, Luís Napoleão Married. “It's a new project in Angola that aims to work with irrigated agriculture, so it's important for Angolans, and for us Brazilians it's a source of great pride,” he says.
The international mission is part of the technical cooperation program “Development of irrigated regions and policies to support family farming” in Angola, in the Cunene River Valley, coordinated by ABC, an institution linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The partnership signed between the two countries linked by Portuguese ties takes place in the year in which Codevasf celebrates 50 years.
During the July activities, Codevasf technicians and representatives of the Brazilian government also participated in a hearing with the Minister of Agriculture and Forests (Minagrif), António Francisco de Assis, who highlighted the importance of the project in leveraging the development of irrigated agriculture and livestock farming. locations. The Company's delegation also participated in a meeting at the Brazilian Embassy in Luanda.
The Brazil-Angola mission negotiations in the area of irrigated agriculture began in 2022. The objective of the activities coordinated by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency is to intensify bilateral relations between the two nations through irrigation projects and policies to support family farming and food security, as well as training local technicians and transferring knowledge and technology to Angola's agricultural sector.
To this end, different soil and climate studies were carried out throughout the months of June and July in the Cafu canal region, located in the Province of Cunene. In thirty days of work, an area of almost three thousand hectares was mapped. The result of these analyzes will allow Brazilian and Angolan experts to understand what type of agricultural culture best adapts to the location, allowing Angolan producers to benefit better.
“We understand that the region has potential, so studies like this are necessary to serve as a basis, in fact, to indicate the best models of soil exploration and local productive arrangements for the region”, emphasizes the agronomist and coordinator from the Codevasf mission, Samuth Duarte.
According to the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA), Brazil is among the five largest food producers in the world, with vast knowledge in the agricultural sector. Brazil's experience in the sector is of interest to the Angolan government. Thus, twelve Angolan technicians were trained by Codevasf professionals in the areas of topography, pedology and drainage.
“We asked for support from Brazilian technicians to study the soils in the region and allow us to know which agricultural crops and pastures can achieve better levels in that region of the Cafu Canal so that we can take advantage of the large investment made by the government in this sector”, explains Anderson Renato de Brito Jerónimo, Director of the Planning and Statistics Studies Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Minagrif). “This exchange will allow us to know if we are on the right path and where we have difficulties they will help us solve the problems”, highlights the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Minagrif) on the joint Angola-Brazil technical commission, Santos João da Costa Quizembe.
According to Paulo Barbosa Lima, responsible for bilateral technical cooperation with the Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP) and Timor-Leste, from the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, the project carried out between the two countries is emblematic. “The main expectations in relation to this project include the improvement of food security, the increase in agricultural production, the strengthening of family farming, local development, the transfer of knowledge and technologies adaptable to the local reality and environmental sustainability”, he lists.
Codevasf is a federal public company that implements public policies in the areas of irrigated agriculture, infrastructure, water security, revitalization of river basins and sustainable economy. Among the highlights of the Company's operations are its 39 irrigation projects, which total 120 thousand hectares of irrigated area and are responsible for the production of 4,1 million tons of agricultural items per year, with a gross production value of R$5,4, 343 billion. These projects maintain XNUMX thousand direct and indirect jobs and are located in the states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, Pernambuco, Sergipe and Alagoas.
Receive the latest agriculture news by email
Receive the latest agriculture news by email
