Thursday 8 October 2009

An Alternative Type of Agriculture in Timor-Leste

Recently constructed greenhouses in Lequitura, Aileu

The USAID operated program "Private Sector Development" is developing a different sort of agriculture in Timor-Leste. The project has allowed Timorese entrepreneurs to submit applications for a tender in the field of agribusiness, which provides an opportunity to construct and run greenhouses specified to raise high grossing crops. One important goal of the project is to shift the Timorese agricultural sector away from a purely subsistence based economy and into a more lucrative field.

Peace Dividend Trust’s Tender Distribution Service (TDS) also has had a part in the program’s operations by releasing information on the Tenders Iha Timor-Leste (Tenders in Timor-Leste) blog website, advertising USAID's request for the materials needed for the construction of the greenhouses. TDS is one of PDT's core services in Timor-Leste, in addition to Business Verification, Matchmaking and Micromatchmaking. To date this year, PDT has advertised over 475 tenders available to the local community, facilitating transactions that ensures dollars are spent locally.