National Department of Agriculture, Cattle and Forests

THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY

Angola has a surface area of 1.247 million square km, with a population estimated in 2003 at 15 million; it is the second-largest country in sub-Saharan Africa. The country is divided into 18 provinces, of which Cabinda is separated from the rest by an exit to the sea, Zaire and the river Congo.

The country has considerable agro-livestock-forestry potential, with arable land extending to between 5 and 8 million hectares, depending on which criteria are used. Soils are relatively fertile in the north and on the central plateau, where annual rainfall normally exceeds 1000 mm. Livestock production is mainly rearing in the south, which is lightly populated and has lower rainfall than other regions. Angola has a long coastline and many rivers, with abundant fish stocks and large forested areas.

Agriculture contributes 8% to GDP, but it is important in a country where 65.8% of the population live in rural areas, and whose activities constitute the main sources of employment, food and income. Most of the active population works in agriculture; and the rural population is increasing at a rate of 2.2% per year.

NATURAL RESOURCES

In contrast to many sub-Saharan countries, Angola is blessed with excellent basic resources for agro-livestock-forestry production. Agro-climatologically conditions are varied, from the humid tropical climate of the north and north-east lowlands to the south-west coastal desert bordering Namibia (Figure 3.B, Annex). The central highlands include zones with rainfall between 1,500 – 2,000 mm per annum, moderate temperatures, soils of varying fertility and a relatively high population density. The coastal area of the south-west is drier, with rainfall of 100-1000 mm per year, and irrigation, for which there are abundant sources of water, is essential for agriculture.

PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

FOOD CROPS

In general, food crops are grown by subsistence farmers using traditional technology, little agricultural input, with low productivity, but some regions have seen the re-activation of commercial farming on a larger scale.

PERFOMANCE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

In the past, Angola was self-sufficient in the main food crops except wheat, and exported surpluses of coffee, maize and such others as sisal, banana, tobacco, beans, sugar, palm oil and rice. Angola was the world’s fourth-largest coffee producer, and the third-largest for sisal. In 1962 and 1973 respectively about 159,900 and 218,700 tonnes of coffee were exported. In the same years maize was the second-largest export crop, with 11,000 and 12,000 tonnes.

FAO/WFP estimated that in 1996 cereal production had increased to about 500,000 tonnes, but in 1996-97 the country was obliged to import about 440,000 tonnes, of which 220,000 tonnes was food aid destined to meet minimum requirements. In 2002/2003 cereal production were estimated at 670,249 tonnes, manioc 5,699,331 tonnes, beans 66,121 tonnes, peanuts 61,821 tonnes and coffee 6,000 tonnes. In the same year agricultural exports were virtually non-existent, with the exception of about 4,483 tonnes of coffee.

Past estimates of domestic resources cost (DRC) show that Angola enjoyed a comparative advantage for the production of maize, sorghum, potatoes, cotton, coffee, beef and chicken, despite low yields. This advantage probably still exists, and could increased with access to adequate technology and the use of lime, gypsum and phosphate, which can be extracted from existing deposits in the country, and with the future use of fertilizers such as ammonia, urea, derived from Angola’s abundant oil reserves.

PERFOMANCE OF LIVESTOCK POPULATION

Estimates of Livestock Population in 2003

Forest and fauna

THE FORESTRY SUB-SECTOR

Angola has various ecosystems. It is calculated that there are 5-8 thousand species of plants, of which 1,260 are endemic. About 40% of the land area is covered with woody vegetation, but only 18.5% of this area (around 23 million hectares) is classified as forest. Plantations cover an area of approximately 150,000 hectares, and consist mainly of rapidly-growing exotic species, mostly Eucalyptus sp.

Much of the surface area is covered by bushes and savannah, whilst only about 16% of the land total consists of humid savannah forest (Figure 3.G, Annex). Humid tropical forest in Angola is restricted to the interior of the enclave of Cabinda, with some patches of forest in the provinces of Zaire, Uíge, Kwanza North and Kwanza South. These areas are important for their biodiversity, and should be protected.

THE POTENTIAL OF FAUNA

With 275 species of registered mammals, Angola is home to one of the most important mammal populations in Africa. According to IUCN, the preservation of the rich diversity of species living in the humid forests, particularly chimpanzees and gorillas, is a priority. Around 20 species of amphibians are endemic to Angola. The country has a much diversified fauna, with about 900 species recorded. The forests of Angola’s hills are particularly rich in fauna. In a study of the 75 main forest birds in Africa, these hills were classified as the tenth most important area.

With a coastline of 1,650 km, Angola has some of the richest waters in Africa. Fishing is most prevalent in the south-west, where there are enormous shoals of fish, as well as tuna and seafood. Before independence fishing was one of the principal industries of the southern coast (Benguela and Namibe). There are several fish-processing plants that produce fish-meal and oil, as well as drying, canning and freezing factories. The annual average catch was as much as 300,000 tonnes in the two final decades. Small-scale fishing contributed 10% of this total, and comprised 5.7% of exports.

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE RURAL SECTOR

• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER).
• The Agricultural Research Institute (IIA)
• The Veterinary Research Institute (IIV)
• The Agrarian Development Institute (IDA)
• MINADER provincial directorates
• Financial Institutions

aSSOCIATIONS AND RURAL COOPERATIVE

Associations and Co-operatives are relatively recent phenomena in rural Angola. With very few exceptions, such as the agricultural clubs formed to benefit from credit, and coffee-growers’ co-operatives developed by the Angolan Coffee Institute, one cannot really speak of co-operative or associative organizations involving Angolan subsistence farmers pre-independence. There were always, however, forms of co-operation and mutual aid centred on social and economic life, both inside and outside clan allegiances. Examples of such mutual-aid local organizations are quixiquila and ondyuluca. The first initiatives for setting up co-operatives in rural areas came about in 1975, in response to political considerations and the emergency situation arising from the transition to independence..