Luanda: The Institute for Agrarian Development (IDA) has called on national and foreign entrepreneurs to invest in pearl millet threshing machines to enhance agricultural productivity, bolster food security, and drive economic growth in Cunene.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Reinaldo Chivutucua, head of the IDA department in Cunene, emphasized the significance of mechanizing the grain separation process, which is currently done manually, requiring substantial time and effort from local farming families. As the province is the region's largest producer of pearl millet, investment in threshing equipment not only presents a business opportunity but also facilitates the processing of this staple cereal, crucial for the region's food security.
Chivutucua highlighted the need for business involvement in processing pearl millet and sorghum to maximize harvest utilization and stimulate the local economy. He noted that IDA's rural development efforts include initiatives to increase pearl millet yields from 300 kilograms to one tonne per hectare by working with farming families through Farmer Field Schools.
The IDA provides technical assistance across Cunene's 14 municipalities, distributing seeds and fertilizers under the SAMAP and MOSAP projects. With 75 percent of Cunene's population engaged in agriculture and livestock farming, Chivutucua stressed the importance of ensuring food availability for consumption and commercialization. He also pointed out infrastructure projects like the Cafu Canal, operational since 2022, and the upcoming Ndue and Calucuve dams, which support large-scale agriculture and reduce drought impacts.
The completion of these projects is expected to provide more agricultural land, diversify national production, and decrease reliance on imports, thereby strengthening food sovereignty. In the past agricultural year, IDA offered technical support to 270,963 farming families, organized into cooperatives, associations, and Farmer Field Schools.
Data from the Provincial Agriculture Office projects that the production of pearl millet, sorghum, and cowpeas will increase to 452,820 tons in the 2025/2026 season, a significant rise from the 156,581.15 tons recorded in the previous season.
