Report has it that Angola consumes 400.000 tons of rice per year, but only produces 25.000 tons, corresponding to six percent of its total consumption.

In the same situation of rice is the soybean, whose annual needs of the country vary between 220 to 240.000 tons per year, but produces only 30 tons per year.

Regarding maize, Angola has a need of 25.000 tons a year, but the data for the 2015/2016 crop year indicated a production of a total of 2.200 tons of maize.

To reverse the situation, the national director of Agriculture, José Carlos Bettencourt, said the country, which has good climatic conditions, huge amounts of water and extensions of arable land, only needs investors in the most diverse agricultural segments.

The director made this known in a forum organized by the Private Trade and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX) in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).

Bettencourt however stressed that the difference between rice produced and what is consumed in the country represents a good business opportunity for those who want to invest in these areas.

Stating that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will work on subsidies for agricultural inputs.

However, seven companies from Italy and several from the agricultural sector who expressed an interest in importing goods of Angola were also in attendance.