Over 33,000 Angolans benefit from organized farmers associations

World Vision, in partnership with the Government of Angola and other partners such as the African Innovation Foundation are developing social projects which include organizing associations of peasants and farmers. The project Securing Angola’s Future aims to stimulate agricultural production and trade by supporting farmers and their associations through farmer field schools, provision of seeds and increased market access.

Subsistence agriculture has as its main objective the production of food to ensure the survival of farmers, their families and communities.  Despite the expansion of agricultural production, subsistence agriculture continues to be practiced.  Subsistence farming aims to meet the food needs of rural households.  One of the main advantages of subsistence agriculture is product quality.

Agricultural production is usually carried out in small parcels of land belonging to peasant families through traditional cultivation methods with little technological resources such as the production of cassava, beans, potatoes, corn, vegetables, where the surplus is for trade. 

The beneficiary families of the associations were given guidance and instructions during harvesting, storage packaging and transportation of products to minimize losses during these operations.  The project facilitates the sale of farmers' products through price research and improving means of transport to marketing areas.

Rufino Hungulo, a 43-year old farmer and father of seven children survives from subsistence agriculture.  Rufino is a farmhand all his life and never got the chance to go to school. But having the opportunity to be part of a farmers' association made it possible for him to acquire training in better agricultural practices such as identifying right time to plant. The associations receive diverse seeds, reproduce them and share with other farmers, often reaching triple the production.

He says, "I received seeds from various crops such as potatoes, cabbages, tomatoes and animal manure for fertilizer. The potato seed is the most profitable and selling them makes me able to buy many necessities like soap, medicines and school supplies for my children.  Before the project we had to make a greater effort because we had to buy the seeds to grow.”

Rufino adds, “Now my life and that of many farmers have improved a lot. We do not need to buy seeds and we can help other farmers. Thanks to World Vision that gave us this support we are very grateful and we want the project not to stop." During the long period of drought in some of the areas, the project has provided refuge to farmers with their knowledge of different crops that can survive the lingering dry spell.

The farmers are very happy with initiatives that they admit have improved their quality of life and the condition in their communities.  They call for the project to continue as it not only gives them the opportunity to receive training in agricultural practices but also the breeding of seeds. The project now has 33,000 beneficiaries with indirect impact to over 145,000 people in Benguela and Huambo provinces.