Angola spends $200 million (184 million euros) a month on food imports such as rice, sugar, chicken, wheat and vegetable oil, the minister of public and economic coordination said on Tuesday.
José de Lima Massano, who spoke at the opening of the third edition of the Angolan Economic Outlook, said Angola cannot continue to depend on external factors to achieve food self-sufficiency, also highlighting the impact on price stability.
Food imports, he stressed, have a direct impact on economic growth and job creation, as well as on inflation, which depends on the behavior of food prices, which make up about 60% of the typical basket of products consumed by Angolans.
“This scenario does not make sense in a country that has the resources and capacity to develop the agricultural sector,” said Lima Massano, stressing that Angola can produce most of its products domestically to meet the needs of its population.
Development of this sector has the potential to create jobs, stimulate agro-industry and generate foreign exchange resources, as well as improve food security, he continued.
Lima Massano reported executive measures aimed at the sector, including increasing budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Agriculture with an increase of more than 80%, loans for the agricultural campaign and guaranteed minimum prices for agricultural products.
In this regard, he added that prices and products for the 2024/2025 agricultural campaign will be announced in June.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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