The Chinese government is going to support farmers in Ainaro, Covalima and Manufahi by providing training in agricultural techniques for the production of organic products such as rice, corn and mung beans, revealed the Director General of Forests, Coffee and Industrial Plants at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forests, Martinho Soares.

He said that the initiative is part of the Agricultural Technology Cooperation Project between China and East Timor, which has been underway since 2011 and aims to encourage Timorese farmers to increase agricultural production without using chemical fertilizers.

"We met with representatives of farmers from the municipalities of Ainaro, Covalima and Manufahi to discuss the implementation of the Agricultural Technology Cooperation Project in those municipalities," he said.

Martinho Soares said that China would also help farmers in the municipalities concerned to raise pigs and produce seeds and organic fertilizers.

(Source: TATOLI Agência Noticiosa de Timor-Leste, on April 11)