Project News

Farmers in Buluto have started to sell their paddies of the first cropping to the ACELDA. They were very delighted that the ACELDA is coming back this year to buy more rice from them. Although most farmers brought their paddies to their homes for traditional ceremony, they guaranteed that no old rice was sold to the ACELDA.

Since Mrs. Carolina Viegas (62), a farmer from Lifau of Laleia listened to the announcement of the community radio that the ACELDA is coming back this year to buy more rice in Buluto, she was keeping the surplus of 1,113 kg to sell to the ACELDA after separating half of her harvest for consumption of her household. She said that due to her age, she might not be able to cultivate all of her land of two ha at once next year. However, since the ACELDA is coming back next year, she is planning to rent out another hectare to a tenant farmer or her relatives so that she can continuously earn cash from selling her paddies to the ACELDA.

Mr. Faustino Cardoso (54), another farmer from Vemasse Tasi said that as a tenant farmer he had to share his paddies with the landowner before selling. He hoped that harvest will be pleasing next year as it is now or more so that he can continue to sell his paddies to the ACELDA. He will use his cash from selling his paddies for tuition of his children.

As the ACELDA's rice business is now expanded to more restaurants and hotels in Dili, it plans to purchase paddies of 200 to 400 tons from Buluto this year. Therefore, it has been urging farmers in Buluto to cultivate two times a year.

Farmers filling their paddies into the ACELDA's sack for selling (1).

Farmers filling their paddies into the ACELDA's sack for selling (2).

The ACELDA is weighing the paddies.

A farmer receiving cash at hand after selling her paddies.

A farmer from Vemasse Tasi expressing her satisfaction to the media after selling her rice.