Oe-Cusse, January 27, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Every year, the farming community in Oe-Cusse always moves their fields from one place to another, regarding this matter, the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with local and international NGOs because this is their responsibility.
According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (SRAFP), Filomena Sila, the Ministry of Agriculture in the Oe-Cusse region has so far collaborated with local and international NGOs to look into the problems faced by the community.
“I have conveyed these things to local and international NGOs about the obstacles that have been faced by the community, especially related to shifting fields. I ask the NGOs which have come to see me to conduct socialization to the community, because so far our community does not know how to make permanent fields in one place,” She said.
She continued, the problem occurred because the community still had minimal knowledge so they had to use good methods on how to change the mindset of the community that had been adapting so far, so that the community could change their mindset on how to make permanent fields in one place.
“Many people today still use the traditional methods of their ancestors, namely moving from one field to another to get food to meet their daily needs. Therefore, we are currently looking for ways to provide training to the community on how to change their mindset in the future so that they can create permanent fields so as not to damage the environment and cause natural disasters.” She added.
She added that the problem identified was not only the Bobometo community who always moved their fields, but also many people in Oe-Cusse who every year always moved their fields from one place to another with the aim of getting good profits.
“But in this way we note how to estimate funds, we do good socialization to the community so that they can change their mindset and knowledge so that every year the field is not moved so as not to damage the environment and have an impact on the springs.” She said.
She emphasized that with these problems, the government’s responsibility is to bring about change to the problems faced by society.
“We also have development partners who have been working together with the community to overcome problems at the base, so every year we always evaluate this and what is the right solution to overcome problems in the community,” She said.
To further explain that there is a plan on how to create a law that has the authority to be enforced on the community, but this law is not only intended for the community who have been moving their fields from one place to another, but for the entire community so that they do not cut down trees indiscriminately in order to reduce natural disasters in this country.
In addition, this information was accessed by journalists while participating in a media tour organized by the Association of Timor-Leste Journalists (AJTL) in collaboration with Oxfam in Timor-Leste and receiving financial support from Oxfam Hong Kong.
Reported by : Nelfiano
Picture by : Nelfiano