Cubal — The deputy governor of central Benguela province for social affairs, João Evangelista Basílio, Tuesday in Cubal, recognised the work done by rural women as the guarantor of sustainability of the community.

The official was speaking on the fringes of the 6th provincial forum on Rural Women taking place in Cubal, some 170 kilometres of Benguela city

He on the occasion spoke of the need for a harder work, seeking to improve the living in the rural area as, he added, more than 50 percent of the population lives in those zones.

João Evangelista Basílio added that the Government programme includes the integrated development of the agricultural sector, mainly aimed at the production of foodstuffs to fight famine, reduce poverty and develop the rural communities.

The deputy governor stated as well that as part of the fight against poverty, more than 58,000 women are organised under peasant associations, having about 5,000 of them obtained micro-credit to support their individual or collective production.

According to João Evangelista Basílio, the repair of roads and establishment of rural trade is one of Government's priorities in consolidating and expanding trade in the rural areas.

On the other hand, the provincial director of the Ministry of Family and Women Promotion, Idalina Carlos, said the ongoing meeting is intended to analyse the concerns of rural women and seek solutions to the problems facing the communities they are part of.

She said as well that with the end of the war in the country, Angolan Government is working to implement policies that boost the construction and revitalisation of the national economy, fight against poverty, famine, consolidation of unity and national reconciliation.

The meeting going under the motto "Rural women, guarantee of food and nutritional security", is tackling such topics as strategies for attainment of food and nutritional security, farming potential and sectoral strategy for food self-sufficiency.

Policies for access to food, professional training, employment, salaries and revenues, policies for expansion of commercial networks and rural markets and micro-finances as a poverty reduction instrument, are other topics being dealt with at the meeting that was opened by the deputy governor.

The two days meeting is also to analyse the consumption and use of foodstuffs, reinforcement of the families powers for a correct nutrition, importance of local food and food stability.