Angola, despite its abundance of arable land and water resources, still heavily relies on food imports. In 2022, the country spent about $3 billion on importing food, as reported by the National Bank. Over the past five years, the Angolan government has been prioritizing the agricultural sector, promoting agribusiness to decrease dependency on external markets for food supply.
One significant initiative is the Angola Commercial Agriculture Development Project (PDAC), which is jointly funded by the World Bank and the French Development Agency. This project aims to encourage bank lending to agriculture by assisting producers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in preparing and funding agriculture investments. It provides technical support, grants, and partial credit guarantees to de-risk investments. This support is facilitating the transition from subsistence farming to a more competitive and market-oriented agricultural sector in the country.
During a visit to the provinces of Malanje, Kwanza Sul, and Kwanza Norte, we observed five business initiatives supported by PDAC and interacted with the beneficiaries to understand their accomplishments. These initiatives included three large-scale corn farms, a coffee-roasting factory, and a poultry farm.
First Stop – Fazenda Media 31, Kwanza Sul Province
Located in Waku-Kungo, 430 km from Luanda, Fazenda Media 31 focuses on cultivating maize, soybeans, beans, and potatoes under the management of Antonio da Costa, known as Cafuringa. With over 30 years of experience, Cafuringa aims to establish Media 31 Farm as a prominent cereal producer in Angola. The farm has received technical support from PDAC and acquired agricultural machinery and equipment to enhance productivity. Adopting a rotational cultivation approach and utilizing a small dam for irrigation, the farm expects a substantial corn yield in the current season.
“The assistance provided by PDAC has transformed our operations significantly. We have expanded our cultivation area and improved productivity thanks to their support. I am grateful for the invaluable help we have received.” – Antonio da Costa.
Fazenda Media 31 supplies large commercial supermarkets, retail vendors in Luanda, and major open markets in the capital city. As production increases, challenges in transporting goods to distant markets have emerged.
Second Stop – “Gabela Coffee”, Kwanza Sul Province
Jose Manuel Ventura, a 66-year-old entrepreneur, runs a small coffee roasting factory in Sumbe with the vision of reviving Angola’s coffee industry. With a deep family history in coffee cultivation, Jose’s dedication and persistence have led to the establishment of Café Gabela, a brand gaining popularity in national supermarkets. With support from PDAC, Jose aims to expand coffee production and introduce his brand to international markets.
“Thanks to PDAC, we have made significant progress in our coffee cultivation. Our region is poised for increased production and market demand, leading to a sustainable coffee market with positive impacts on producers and their families.” – Jose Ventura.
Third Stop – Cafuqueno Farm, Kwanza Norte Province
Maria Campos, inspired by her family’s farming legacy, returned to agriculture after a career in civil service for health reasons. With support from PDAC, Maria has expanded her farm’s cultivation area and improved production by adopting modern techniques and acquiring essential machinery. The farm currently employs 19 staff members and aims to optimize its 400-hectare land for increased productivity.
“PDAC has been instrumental in helping us achieve our agricultural goals. The technical guidance and resources provided have significantly improved our operations, leading to enhanced productivity.” – Maria Campos.
Fourth Stop – Anjomal Farm, Malanje Province
Owned by Jose Manuel Domingos and Ana José, Anjomal Farm in Cambanje commune cultivates a variety of crops and has recently focused on large-scale maize production. With PDAC’s assistance, the farm has adopted advanced techniques and acquired modern equipment to enhance productivity and minimize losses during harvesting.
“PDAC’s support has been crucial in our farm’s transformation. We have increased our production area and improved efficiency, moving towards reaching our full potential.” – José Domingos.
Fifth Stop – Poultry Farming, Malanje Province
Carlos Marta, a former teacher, manages the poultry project at Catchicongo Farm in Malanje. With PDAC’s support, the farm has enhanced its infrastructure and production capacity to meet the growing demand for eggs. Despite challenges in feed costs and lack of local suppliers, the farm aims to become self-sufficient in egg and chicken production, benefiting the local community.
“PDAC’s assistance has been crucial in our journey in poultry farming. We are determined to increase our production capacity and become self-sufficient in egg and chicken production.” – Carlos Marta.
These initiatives exemplify the resilience of Angolan entrepreneurs in leveraging the country’s resources to enhance food security and diversify the economy.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.