Díli, June 12, 2025

The Secretariat of State for Cooperatives (SECoop), through the National Directorate for Cooperative Product Promotion, facilitated training on processing sorghum (Bafo Kayrala) into final products for cooperative members, cafeterias, and catering groups from Dili Municipality, held at Esperança Hall, Delta.

The training aims to share knowledge on how to turn sorghum into a variety of final products suitable for snacks or meals at events, especially in public institutions, and to integrate local agricultural products into public use.

This program is aligned with the IX Constitutional Government’s priorities, particularly SECoop’s responsibilities in supporting agricultural cooperatives in bread production, using raw materials like sorghum, cassava, and other Timorese crops.

“We placed this training in our 2025 Annual Action Plan. When farmers produce a lot, the next step is to process it into final products to supply the local market,” said SECoop.

Under IX Government policy, especially SECoop’s, sorghum is included in school feeding programs alongside other foods rich in protein and nutrients.

“Sorghum’s key market is the school feeding program because children need nutritious food to grow,” SECoop explained.

Currently, public knowledge about sorghum is still limited. SECoop will continue promoting it on a large scale to increase awareness and consumption.

“Many people still don’t consume it regularly. So the National Directorate must continue promoting sorghum at fairs, schools, and other venues. Sorghum has great nutritional value for both human health and animal growth,” emphasized SECoop.

The training runs from June 12 to 14, 2025, with participation from cooperatives and groups such as KOFETIL, Kooperativa Feto Potensiál, MBX, CU PAUN MORIS, CU DADIRAH, Dino Catering, and CU Emprendedorizmu.

Similar training has already been conducted in Baucau, RAEOA, Covalima, Viqueque, Ainaro, and Aileu, and will continue expanding to other municipalities.