Angola is a republic located on the west coast of Southern Africa, bordering Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and the Atlantic Ocean. With a land area nearly twice that of Kalimantan Island, Angola had an estimated population of 32.87 million in 2021. As a former Portuguese colony, Portuguese is widely spoken among its population. Angola’s agricultural sector holds substantial potential due to fertile soils and favorable climatic conditions; however, this potential remains largely underutilized, with only approximately 10–15% of arable land currently under cultivation. Major crops include cassava, maize, legumes, bananas, and sweet potatoes, yet Angola continues to import more than half of its food requirements. To enhance domestic food production, the Angolan government has launched the PLANAGRÃO program for grain production and the PLANAPECUÁRIA program for livestock development. The Angolan government has long expressed its intention to cooperate with Indonesia in agricultural development, and a bilateral agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of Angola is expected to be signed in the near future.
In preparation for post-agreement activities, the Embassy of Angola in Jakarta sent one of its staff members to visit Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), particularly the Faculty of Agriculture, to explore opportunities for strengthening cooperation between UGM and several universities in Angola in support of agricultural development. The Angolan delegation was accompanied by the Chair of AngoNesia, representatives from CV Bioteknologi Indonesia, and three Angolan students currently pursuing their studies in Indonesia. During the visit, discussions were held regarding cooperation plans, visits to laboratories at the Department of Agricultural Cultivation, and field observations in agricultural areas around Yogyakarta.
Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), particularly the Faculty of Agriculture, formally welcomed the delegation from the Embassy of Angola in Jakarta. This visit marked an initial step in exploring opportunities for cooperation under the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, Research, and Community Service to support agricultural development in Angola.
This initiative serves as a follow-up to the long-standing interest of the Angolan government in establishing agricultural cooperation with Indonesia, which is expected to be realized following the signing of the bilateral agreement. Throughout the visit, the delegation engaged in intensive discussions, laboratory visits, and field observations to identify concrete areas of collaboration.
This cooperation initiative aligns closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through support for the PLANAGRÃO and PLANAPECUÁRIA programs, SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by involving academia, government, and the private sector, and SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education.
Contributor: Prof. Dr. Ir. Taryono, M.Sc.
Editor: Yudha Pria Wibawa
Photo: Embassy of Angola