UNOPS started a three-year farming project in Angola backed by Japanese money to help more than 107,000 people shift from growing food just for themselves to selling crops for profit along the Lobito Corridor, according to the organization’s press-release. The work focuses on Huambo and Benguela provinces, where farmers will get better infrastructure to connect with the 1,300-kilometer railway that runs from Angola’s coast to mining areas in Congo and Zambia. Instead of just feeding their families, farmers will grow valuable crops for export markets.
The Lobito Corridor is a big rail and infrastructure project meant to increase trade across southern Africa. Many rural areas along the route lack basic facilities needed for commercial farming, keeping communities out of the economic benefits.
The project includes building 15 underground water storage dams and fixing three irrigation canals to give farmers water all year round for over 170 hectares of land. This will let farmers grow crops 2.5 times per year instead of 1.5 times, helping them deal with unpredictable rains and dry spells. UNOPS will also put up 25 cooling warehouses so farmers lose 20% fewer crops after harvest and can keep products fresh longer for bigger markets. Japan’s ambassador to Angola, Hiroaki Sano, said his country backs projects that help communities grow sustainably and live better.
Training programs will teach 250 farmers and 50 technicians how to run the new systems independently. Seven towns are set for the work, with exact locations to be picked during the first phase alongside Angola’s agricultural development institute. UNOPS official Frederic Frippiat said they’re building skills and knowledge, not just infrastructure.
