As Angola faces the need to diversify its economy amidst falling oil prices, FAO and Agrinatura, in collaboration with Angola's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, launched a project to promote sustainable growth in the country's agricultural sector. The project, known as CDAIS, or Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems, is set to benefit small farmers, agri-business, and consumers by helping the country strengthen its capacities for agricultural innovation. 

Angola relies heavily on oil export, which accounts for the majority of government revenues, whereas the share of agriculture in the country's GDP is slightly less than 12 percent. However, with only 7 percent of arable land under cultivation, there is a tremendous potential for agricultural growth. Before the civil war that ravaged the country from 1975 to 2002, Angola was a successful exporter of many commercial crops and the 4th world’s largest coffee producer.  

"CDAIS is crucial for the development of the agricultural sector in Angola," said Mamoudou Diallo, FAO's Angola Representative, during the workshop that kick-started CDAIS in the West African country. "And its objectives connect to the plan to strengthen national capacities in agricultural research in the framework of the cooperation between FAO, Angola, and Brazil." Mr. Diallo also confirmed FAO's full support to Angola’s national agricultural program, "so that it can achieve success in the short, medium and long term." 

Other key partners such as  José Amaro Tati, the Secretary of State for Agriculture, and Kundi Paihama, Governor of the Huambo province, attended the meeting on May 18-19, 2016. 

Mr. Tati pointed out that investing in research is imperative to consolidate the results of the national development program, which the government is implementing since 2002. "Our path will be safer and less painful if all institutions pay particular attention to research for innovation; otherwise it is impossible to develop the farming sector," Mr. Tati said.

With financial support from the European Union, CDAIS is a global initiative in support of more productive and sustainable agricultural sectors. Its objective is to promote Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) that meet the demands of farmers, agri-business, and consumers. In addition to Angola, CDAIS is active in 7 countries: Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Laos, and Rwanda.  

More information about CDAIS in Angola is available here.