Dili, June 18, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Secretary of State for Cooperatives (SECoop) held a meeting with members of the Timor-Leste Peasant Movement (MOKATIL) from each municipality to present their reports on two years of service and production of Bafo Kayrala products, as well as other products such as mung beans (koto) produced in the municipalities. The meeting took place at the SECoop office, Akait Dili, on Monday.
The Secretary of State for Cooperatives, Arsenio Pereira, stated that the purpose of this meeting was to bring everyone together to present reports on the past two years of activities, reviewing the production carried out in each municipality.
“In today’s meeting, I personally want to hear from each of you, the representatives from these municipalities, who must present reports on the past two years, reviewing the production of Bafo Kayrala as well as other products you have produced in your municipalities, including quantities produced and whether these products have reached the market, which municipalities have supported school feeding programs, and how many consumers have purchased these products. The reason I am requesting this is because until today, I have not yet received reports or data from you regarding these productions. That is why I convened this meeting, with your participation and the presence of media, so that the public can learn about your work at the grassroots level,” said SECoop Secretary of State Arsenio Pereira.
He further requested that each municipality present their reports on the production carried out in their respective areas, as well as explain the communication between the National Directorate of Municipalities and the Sectoral Cooperative Movement regarding the production of various products such as Bafo Kayrala, mung beans, and others, so that SECoop can have accurate reports from MOKATIL members.
“I called this meeting today and invited national media so that you can present your reports on the work in each municipality to date. Usually, the media only contact me directly and I always have to tell them that I have not yet received data from MOKATIL members in the municipalities. Today, each of you must present your reports, so the public can know about your activities and the support provided by the government through SECoop. This includes what you have produced, your achievements, and which municipalities have reached certain levels of production, so that the public can have accurate information,” added Secretary of State for Cooperatives.
Support provided by SECoop was previously only viewed through public transfers to each municipality to enable production. Until now, SECoop had only received information via WhatsApp, but through this meeting, SECoop wanted to hear directly from MOKATIL representatives from each municipality.
“The reports you present via national media are important for public knowledge, so when people want to buy these products, they will know which municipalities produce more Bafo Kayrala or mung beans, making it easier for the public to access this information. Each municipality has different production volumes,” Arsenio Pereira explained.
He reaffirmed that these reports are important so everyone can know the quantity of products produced by each group in the municipalities, allowing consumers to purchase accordingly. Without public reports, people would not know what products are being produced in each municipality or the quantities available for collection.
To clarify further, the meeting was attended by representatives from the municipalities of Liquiçá, Covalima, Manatuto, Baucau, Lautém, Dili, Manufahi, and Ainaro. However, representatives from RAEOA, Atauro, Ermera, and Aileu did not attend the meeting. During the meeting, reports were presented by MOKATIL presidents from all municipalities, with a combined production estimate reaching approximately 134 tons. In Baucau municipality, collection is still ongoing, while in the other municipalities, production estimates for mung beans, Bafo Kayrala, and other products for the first period have already been tallied.
Report: Domingas
Photo: Domingas