Food Security In Timor-lese: Challenges And Lessons Learnt - Carlos Basilio

FOOD SECURITY IN TIMOR LESTE: Challenges and Lessons Carlos S. Basilio, Team Leader, EC Food Security Program for NGOs in Timor Leste Learnt ChildFund International, Dili, Timor Leste

EC-Food Security Program, International NGO Coordination Group Agencies

District Coverage

CARE International

Liquica, Bobonaro

ChildFund International Lautem, Manatuto

CONCERN Worldwide

Lautem, Manufahi

OXFAM International

Covalima, Oecusse

World Neighbors

Oecusse

Food Security in East Timor 41 % live below the poverty line 90% suffer food shortages for at least one

month every year 75% of households depend on subsistence farming for survival. Alternate sources of food are extremely rare, laborious to prepare and contain substances potentially detrimental to health widespread malnutrition among the population, especially the children

Causes of Food Insecurity Limited production of food from

limited and marginal lands Limited income generated from farm activities Limited access to non-farm income generating activities Large household size

Limited production from limited marginal lands

Limited income from limited crop and animal production

Low income from selling farm products in the markets because of low prices given due to poor product quality

Low income from selling farm products in the markets because of low prices given due to limited demand

High cost of transport due to bad roads, long distance from the markets, lack of storage facilities, etc

Limited access to non-farm income earning opportunities

Many household members to feed

Food Security Policy (GoTL) concern for all Timor Leste’s farmers needs to be addressed in a coordinated and

holistic fashion integrated program with a number of interrelated components the goal is to improve the quantity, quality and reliability of food production systems in subsistence households, principally in the uplands

Grow good quality seeds

Select and store seed properly

Establish Community Seed Centers

Encourage genetic diversity Rice

Peanut

Introduce new varieties sweetpotato

cassava

Reduce drudgery of labor …

… by appropriate technology

Use more effective post-harvest handling and storage practices to reduce losses

Harvest rainwater to lessen impacts of drought…

…and extend growing season

Establish home gardens for better nutrition and income generation

Encourage semiintensive…

and practices

Integrate Farm Enterprises

Related Issues and Challenges negative spiral property regimes disaster management  natural resource degradation animal food security domestic violence

Technical solutions are available but adapting them under Timor Leste’s conditions needs equally important institutional, socio-cultural and policy innovations

Community Food Security Community-Based Community-Based Learning andAction Action Learning and

Strengthening Communities for Collective Action

Developing Dryland Agricultural Systems Adaptive Project Project Adaptive Co-Management Co-Management

Learning and Sharing Agricultural Innovations Organizational Organizational Capacity Capacity Development Development