Equatorial Guinea Agriculture Minister Nguema Reaffirms Local Agriculture Goals in a Global Context

Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue also Leads Constitutional Reform Campaign Efforts

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, Nov. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Equatorial Guinea Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue focused attention today on growing and reinforcing the agriculture sector in Equatorial Guinea through economic development and coordination on the world stage. He also acknowledged government leaders from around the world who took part in an agricultural working group at the G20 Economic Summit in Cannes, France.  

President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo attended the summit as Chairman of the African Union. Agriculture Minister Nguema remained in Equatorial Guinea to lead a campaign to reform the nation's constitution.

"Today is an important day in Equatorial Guinea with our president at the G20 Summit. While we in Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry are focused on our local environment and economy, we always think in a global perspective when seeking to achieve higher growth in the agricultural sector.  In many ways, our success depends on our own efforts, though Africa and the greater global community can play a role." said Minister Nguema.   "We can coordinate regional agricultural policy, while our African neighbors and our global partners can share their insight and tools to expand our capacity and improve yield, exports and productivity."

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Equatorial Guinea has many initiatives in place to foster agricultural growth. The Ministry has placed expert technicians in every province to provide guidance and know-how to local farmers. These efforts, led by Minister Nguema, ensure everyone in the nation has access to food and effective crop production techniques. Minister Nguema has also led a project to upgrade homes and farming facilities in rural areas with zinc roofs, in lieu of more rudimentary and less effective building materials.

During the G20 Summit, Minister Nguema remained in Equatorial Guinea to serve as national director of the constitutional reform campaign.  The constitutional reform efforts are intended to increase government transparency, create a bicameral legislature, limit presidential terms and expand representational democracy which will be voted on in referendum on November 13, 2011.

Another effort of the Ministry has been the establishment of microcredit plans for farmers, allowing them to plant their crops without worrying about financial issues.  The program affords farmers the opportunity to request a credit at the beginning of the agriculture season, helping them obtain the necessary materials needed to achieve a productive and fertile farming season.

"Our goals are to give the people a helping hand to achieve agricultural success," concluded Minister Nguema.  "I am pleased that President Obiang is present with the world's major political leaders at the G20 to address economic and financial issues in this spirit."

About Equatorial Guinea
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country hosted the 2011 Summit of the African Union. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea