"There was a false idea in our country that we were a major coffee producer," Isaac Francisco Maria dos Anjos began by saying in his speech at the 2nd Brazil-Africa Dialogue on Food Security, Fight Against Hunger and Rural Development, in Brasília, which was attended by delegations from 42 African countries at Brazil's invitation, as well as representatives of international organizations, such as the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), multilateral development banks, research institutions, family farming organizations and cooperatives and private sector entities.
"In fact, we were the fourth largest coffee producer," the minister added, warning: "but today, to return to the world of coffee, we either adopt sustainable agricultural practices, or we will be banned."
"Our coffee cannot be sold if we do not take care of the person who takes care of the coffee," he stressed, adding that farms will have "to adapt to modern codes"
"It means a big, big revolution," he said, stating that the country is committed to increasing domestic production through the use of adapted technologies.
In his speech, the official said Angola faces serious consequences of climate change, especially in the south of the country, where long periods of drought have caused significant economic losses.
Angola currently has 35 million hectares of arable land, but only 17 percent is in use, that is, around 6 million hectares are effectively exploited, he said, recalling that the irrigation rate is only around 2 percent, which severely limits agricultural productivity and that the share of agriculture in GDP also remains modest, not exceeding 4.3 percent.
A mission from the Brazilian agribusiness sector was in Angola from May 5 to 10, with the participation of around 30 Brazilian businesspeople and the Brazilian minister in charge, Carlos Fávaro, who participated in government meetings and technical visits to the provinces of Luanda, Malanje and Cuanza-Norte and also meetings with representatives of the Angolan private sector to discuss forms of financing.
A document will be drawn up and, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, the material will be delivered to Lula da Silva during the presidential meeting at the Planalto Palace, this Friday, with President João Lourenço.
"We are available to negotiate with the Brazilian Government the best conditions for the implementation of this strategic cooperation that will mark the beginning of a new era of cooperation", said Isaac Francisco Maria dos Anjos.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva will receive his Angolan counterpart this Friday, on the second day of João Lourenço's visit to Brazil, which will also be marked by the signing of agreements and a meeting with a group representing the Brazilian business class.
A source at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Lusa that half a dozen memoranda will be signed focused on the agricultural and energy sectors.
