Dili, December 19, 2024 (Média Democracia) – The Secretary of State for Cooperatives held a promotional activity for the “Bafo Kayrala” product with the theme “Producing and Promoting Bafo Kayrala Cooperative Products” with pride and prosperity.
Secretary of State for Cooperatives (SECOOP), Arsenio Pereira said SECOOP always holds routine activities to promote Bafo Kayrala every year, which was previously also held in the municipality.
“Because we also received direction from the Prime Minister that last year’s promotion was not only at the national level, but also at the municipal level, post-administration and villages so that the public can get to know this product,” said the Secretary of State for Cooperatives, Arsenio Perreira to reporters at the Delta Nova Hall, on Wednesday.
He informed that in the future, Bafo Kayrala products will be offered to schools as snacks, so Bafo Kayrala itself will continue to promote the production.
“We will offer it to schools as snacks and also for consumption, we continue to promote this activity because so far we have always promoted it everywhere, but today there has been recognition from the National Parliament and Parliament members, they said that it is necessary to provide knowledge to our community in general so that they know,” he said.
He realized that the stock was not enough because SECOOP had not yet offered seeds to farmers.
“The stock that we have known about the production so far because it is now in production but the State Secretary of Cooperatives has not provided the seeds, so what they have produced we are preparing for the next season, so that they can produce a lot,” he added.
He added that Bafo Kayrala is in all municipalities covering an area of almost 444 hectares that is being cultivated by farmers this year.
“Next year, in January or February, we will be able to collect it and from there we will be able to consume it because many people have requested it but the stock has run out, because farmers said they only store it for seeds, a little is processed into rice and flour,” he continued.
He said the areas that produce a lot of Bafo Kayrala are Covalima, Liquiça, Bobonaro, Lautem and Manufahi.
“This is in a large production area and also another target to be processed, but there are obstacles faced by our cooperative for production, especially in making sand, so we coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture, but sometimes the condition of the tractor is bad, besides that what they need more is the Ministry of Agriculture at the municipality level to manage this tractor, this is indeed a bit difficult but we are sure that in 2025 production will increase according to the existing target,” he said.
As Governor of BNCTL, Helder Lopes congratulated SECOOP for having an important role in the development of the country.
“Especially in the areas that you are involved in and I ask you to continue, because your role is very important for the development of this country. Three very important sectors are the public sector, the government sector and the cooperative sector.” He added.
SECOOP as the main actor in the development of this country, then the burden given to cooperatives must be carried out properly and carry out their duties properly, because if the duties are not carried out properly, our country will be less fortunate in economic development.
He explained that regarding SECOOP’s task in the production of Bafo Kayrala, it has 4 main points because the main reason everyone works is how to keep everyone alive.
“Now in our country there are many things that are still small, so how can we all make everyone live prosperously or reduce poverty, to reduce poverty you contribute through four things. First, you contribute to the food security of the community when they feel prosperous then they must feel sufficient, and your role is very important to ensure food security.” He said.
He added that in this second part, the yield and income for the cooperative itself and for the employees working in the cooperative.
“In the third part, your activities will be sustainable in the long term, because your work is micro and small businesses, sometimes up to medium and also based on the data we have, the economy of Timor-Leste is experiencing a decline or which supports our economy as micro, small and medium businesses.” He added.
In the fourth part, as a representative of the government, it becomes a servant, while cooperatives are the key, because when cooperative activities develop, cooperatives will pay taxes and provide foreign exchange to the state, so that the state plays a role in improving the welfare of the country.
Reported by : Estefania
Picture by : Estefania