Agriculture
Minister Inaugurates Candlenut Oil Exports
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Estanislau
Aleixo da Silva, early this week officially launched the export
of Timor-Leste’s candlenut oil. USAID, through its implementing
partner, the University of Hawaii, provides support to ACELDA,
a local company owned by a Timor-Leste proprietor to buy candlenut
from farmers and extract and export the oil to the Hawaii-based
Company, Oils of Aloha. This is the third shipment, and by supporting
ACELDA, USAID hopes the candle-nut oil business will be a profitable
and sustainable one in Timor-Leste. The project increases income
opportunities for women, who harvest and shell the candlenut.
(Dec. 18, 2006)
Global Fund Signs $9M HIV/AIDS
Grant with Timor-Leste
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria has approved
a five-year, $9 million grant to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS
in Timor-Leste. An initial tranche of $3.68 million was released
to fund curative and preventive services for the first two years.
Until May 2006, USAID supported the only significant HIV/AIDS
program in Timor-Leste. The Global Fund grant provides USAID
with a viable exit strategy from HIV/AIDS programming and is
critical to maintaining Timor-Leste’s low prevalence rate.
(Dec. 18, 2006)
USAID Malaria Campaign in Timor-Leste
Takes Off
USAID has embarked on a public health campaign--through news
releases, public service announcements and participation in
a popular television talk show--warning the public and advising
them how they can prevent malaria and other diseases. The campaign,
inspired by the December 14th Malaria Summit hosted by President
Bush, has been enthusiastically supported by Timor-Leste's media
outlets for its timeliness, as it coincides with the start of
the rainy season. USAID Representative Flynn Fuller also highlighted
the Malaria Summit to Timor-Leste’s health community during
his opening remarks at a three-day workshop attended by the
leading health workers from all of Timor-Leste's 13 districts.
(Dec. 18, 2006)
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