The Government of Angola has engaged Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) to provide technical assistance to the government through the African Development Bank(AfDB)-funded Cabinda Province Agriculture Value Chains Development Project (CPAVCDP).

In an agreement worth $1.4 million, signed on 13^th January 2023, TAAT is expected to deploy capacity-building initiatives to reach at least 10,200 value chain beneficiaries in the Cabinda Province of Angola by enhancing beneficiaries’ knowledge on crop, aquaculture and livestock management to uptake the use of improved technologies.

Technology interventions will prioritise training on Good Agriculture and Management Practices  (GAP/BMP) for crops (cassava, maize, cowpea, soybean, and groundnuts), aquaculture and livestock. TAAT will equally address challenges of improving food and crop production by providing improved production inputs for crops, aquaculture and livestock.

TAAT is expected to deploy technologies for Early Generation Seed (EGS) multiplication, Tissue culture and Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH), best use of fertilisers and pesticides, the massification of fish production with the introduction of new fingerlings breeds (tilapia and catfish), small ruminants and poultry; training in good agricultural practices; promotion of mechanisation along the value chains, and post-harvest and value addition

Through this engagement, TAAT experts shall leverage the existing 34 Farmer Field Schools established by the project and strengthen them to reach at least 30,600 beneficiaries. The Farmer Field Schools will be primed to deliver modern agriculture technologies to beneficiaries helping value chain actors, including farmers, gain access to information on new varieties deployed through this agreement, increase the capacity of beneficiaries and enhance their skills in using good agriculture practices; enhance beneficiaries’ knowledge on crop, aquaculture and livestock management to uptake the use of improved technologies; and strengthen the seed sector of identified crops and fishery to accelerate the adoption of proven technology bundles and innovation solutions to bolster productivity and production. 

Agriculture in Angola

Angola is one of the resource-rich countries in Africa. It is the second-largest Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country in both total area and population (behind Brazil) and is the seventh-largest country in Africa.  As of 2021, the Angolan population is estimated at 32.87 million.

Angola is the 4th cassava producer in Africa and 9th in the world. According to the National Development Plan (2013-2017) and Vision 2025, the country’s strategy is to “transform the agricultural sector to drive local food production and exports and generate foreign currency earnings to reduce the current pressure on the foreign reserves arising from the sharp decline in the international oil prices. Agricultural transformation investments are also aimed at driving income growth, ensuring food security, and generating sustainable employment”. 

CPAVCDP to the rescue

To respond to this need, the AfDB-funded the Cabinda Province Agriculture Value Chains Development (CPAVCDP) project which aims to contribute to increasing food and nutrition security, job, and wealth creation in the Province of Cabinda in Angola. This project specifically aims at increasing farmers’ food and nutrition security and incomes through increased agricultural output and value addition.

The CPAVCDP will also contribute to enhancing the income of small and medium enterprises engaged in input supply, production, agro-processing, storage, and marketing of selected commodities on a sustainable basis.