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Programs

Timor-Leste Liquica

Donate

$50,000 needed of $150,600

Implementing Organization

Church World Service (CWS)

Program Summary

Timor-Leste has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world, with 46% of children under five suffering from chronic malnutrition/stunting. Many subsistence households experience annual food shortages, largely due to poor agricultural productivity and insufficient outputs.

This program is working to improve child nutrition and the overall family food security of poor and vulnerable farmer families in the District of Liquica.  The program includes the following activities:

  • Training farmers and their households on nutritious food production, processing, and storage of maize;
  • Training farmer groups in vegetable production and processing;
  • Improved agricultural techniques;
  • Access to irrigation resources
  • Supporting farmer groups to market and add value to their products;
  • Setting up and/or supporting cooking classes where women support women to learn about nutritious cooking and share menus and recipes as well as their experiences and challenges.

Success Stories

Easy AND Productive

Farmers like Camilo thought growing corn was pretty easy, but that poor yields were just par for the course. Now, however, after receiving training in more effective agricultural practices, they think it’s easy AND productive.

Corn is considered the second staple crop in Timor-Leste after rice, and many people grow it as their main livelihood. Cultivating corn is said to be easy because it can grow on various types of soil and, unlike rice, doesn’t need to be flooded. Despite its relatively simple environmental requirements, local farmers often experience crop failures due to pests, poor seed quality and inadequate storage practices. Such losses mean reduced food availability and hunger.

The aim of local partner Fundasaun Sosial Naroman (FUSONA) is for participants to increase their knowledge of maize production from seed selection and soil care to crop management, harvesting, and storage processes. Instruction in environmental preservation helps farm families increase yields in both quantity and quality of the harvest.

Farmer Camilo testified that the corn production and processing training has significantly helped him and his neighbors improve their overall agricultural knowledge. More specifically, they have benefited from best practices in planting and growing corn, harvesting it, and especially storing it properly in airtight containers to prevent damage from pests and moisture.

Speaking on behalf of the other trainees, Camilo said they all felt very lucky to be able to receive such training, as they had never before been offered the opportunity to attend a workshop like this. “Thank you for your attention to farmers like us and helping us to become more successful and, we hope, more prosperous.”

Timor-Leste Liquiçá Program
Led by Church World Service and Local Partner Fundasaun Sosial Naroman (FUSONA)

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