Benguela: Minister of Agriculture and Forests Isaac dos Anjos advocated in Benguela for boosting the promotion of silviculture to diversify agricultural production, increase rural household incomes, and foster the sustainable development of the forestry sector. Speaking at the launch of the Agro Corridors Angola program, the government official called for broad private sector participation in the production and commercialization of forest seedlings as part of efforts to promote silviculture. According to Angola Press News Agency, the Minister of Agriculture and Forests highlighted the role that specialized companies, such as Esplendor Florestal, can play in expanding planted forests as an alternative for diversifying agricultural production. "We are facing some challenges, and we would like Esplendor Florestal to also be a driving force in promoting silviculture," he acknowledged, noting the segment's potential for significant growth. To this end, the minister suggested establishing a mechanism for selling and distributing plants to individual households, enabling every farmer to establish their own eucalyptus plantation. The Executive's goal is to encourage every family and farmer to develop small plantations of eucalyptus and other tree species, thereby making silviculture an economically profitable activity in rural areas. The minister noted that, although Esplendor Florestal is developing approximately five thousand hectares of planted forests, the Government's goal is to reach one million hectares by involving a larger number of producers. "If they are developing 5,000 hectares, we want to reach one million. Therefore, we need to let more people do it," he stressed, emphasizing the World Bank's concept that farmers need to realize that producing only maize, beans, or rice is not enough. To achieve this objective, he advocated for the creation of nurseries dedicated to producing and selling seedlings, thereby expanding farmers' access to the plant material needed to establish new plantations. Isaac dos An jos highlighted that forestry represents a reliable source of medium- and long-term income and announced the creation of specific financing mechanisms for planted forest producers. According to the official, the Executive, in partnership with the World Bank, plans to make credit lines with terms of four to five years available to support investments in the sector. He explained that, under the Commercial Agriculture Development Project (PDAC) funded by the World Bank, the State co-finances up to 50 percent of the value of approved projects, with commercial banks providing the remaining funding-while also benefiting from public guarantees to reduce operational risk. The minister also called on financial institutions to make access to agricultural credit more flexible, noting that excessive caution has limited private investment in the sector. Isaac dos Anjos reiterated that the Executive's goal is to create conditions for farmers to increase production and generate income, arguing that public support should p rioritize productive and sustainable investments. The 'Esplendor Florestal' initiative involves the reforestation of designated areas in the provinces of Benguela and Huambo. Since 2022, it has enabled the replanting of 4,000 hectares, thereby fostering sustainable development within local communities. Aligned with the national commitment to developing renewable resources, the project targets the planting of 7,000 hectares annually over the coming years, supported by a nursery with a capacity of 10 million seedlings per year.
