Meeting with Timor Leste Directorate of Agriculture Extension and Training Timor Leste Extension Service

Colleagues from Timor Leste express an interest to enhance extension in the country. According to Quintiliano Afonso Belo, MSc Senior Official, National Directorate of Agriculture Extension and Training Timor Leste  Extension Service, Timor Leste is currently striving to enhance agricultural extension and training services for farmers. As part of this effort, Directorate of Agriculture Extension and Training Timor Leste would like to collaborate and lean from other countries and adapt best practices.  On 12 February 2024, Dr. Siti Amanah (RAS-SEA Chairperson, from IPB University) together with RAS-SEA Program Manager (Dr. Epsi Euriga) and two RAS-SEA Volunteers (Ms. Siti Syamsiah and Mr. Rafnel Azhari) met virtually with Mr Belo and the Director of Agriculture Extension and Training Timor Leste (as shown in the photos documentation in this update news). The objective of the meeting was to discuss about the context of Extension and Rural Advisory Services (RAS) in Southeast Asia Region and Globally. The meeting also talked about the GFRAS, APIRAS, RASSEA Forum as the network forum to contribute to the improvement of the small-holder farmers welfare from the perspective sustainable agri-food system. The Timor Leste colleagues request to be part of RAS-SEA considering the need for learning and exchange experiences from Indonesia Country (and others) to find solution regarding the role of extension services to transform livelihood of small-holder farmers, enhance RAS, etc. There is also possibility for the Timor Leste if needed to create Country Fora for Timor Leste. The Timor Leste representatives would like to present at the Fourth RASSEA Biennial Meeting together with three Country Fora in RASSEA (The Philippines Extension and Advisory Services (PhilEASNet) the co-host for the 4th Biennial Meeting on August 25th 2025 that will be held virtually; Indonesia Forum for Rural Advisory Services (IFRAS), and Malaysia Forum for Rural Advisory Services (MAFRAS) Network). To date the Biennial Meeting preparation is on going. (SA)