Luanda, Oct. 2, 2025 (Lusa) - Angolan agricultural production grew by 1.7% in 2023/24, but livestock farming recorded a significant decline, especially in goat meat, eggs and milk, compared to the previous season, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).
The 2024 Statistical Yearbook of Agriculture and Forestry, released by the National Statistics Institute on Wednesday, which compares the last two agricultural seasons, reveals that the area sown increased by 2.3% to 6.17 million hectares, with the family sector accounting for more than 90% of the cultivated area.
Overall vegetable crop production reached 28 million tonnes, an increase of 1.7% over the previous year.
Roots and tubers remain the main crop, with 14.58 million tonnes, corresponding to 52% of national production, dominated by cassava (more than 80% of the total) and sweet potatoes.
Fruit also recorded a significant increase, to 6.9 million tonnes, with bananas accounting for three-quarters of production.
Cereals reached 3.52 million tonnes. In contrast, vegetables fell by 28.7% to 2.36 million tonnes, with tomatoes and onions leading the way, despite declines in yield.
In contrast, the livestock sector contracted, with meat production falling by 2.5% to 333,200 tonnes.
Goat meat, which remains the most consumed in the country and accounts for 46% of supply, fell by 10% to 153,100 tonnes, with pork (-1.8%) and mutton (-3.7%) also declining.
Only beef (+3.9%) and poultry (+8.1%) recorded increases in production.
The decline was most pronounced in animal products such as eggs, whose production fell by 12.3% to 2.42 billion units, and milk, which fell by 12.6% to 5.5 million litres.
The yearbook also notes a recovery in coffee, with commercial production growing by 21.7% to 7,584 tonnes, signalling a recovery in provinces such as Uíge, Cuanza Norte and Cuanza Sul.
In the forestry sector, roundwood production was 238,700 cubic metres and sawnwood production was 179,700 cubic metres, of which 43% was exported. Sawn timber exports reached 78,100 cubic metres, with China, Vietnam, Italy, Portugal and Spain as the main destinations, highlighting the importance of this sector for the Asian and European markets.
The report also highlights the growth in honey production (6,084 tonnes, 16% more than in the previous season) and wax (379 tonnes, 14% more), products with less weight in the total, but which represent income for rural communities.
RCR/AYLS // AYLS
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