Equatorial Guinea Ministry of Agriculture Invests in Rural Development

Zinc Roofs Campaign Expands throughout the Continental Region

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, Nov. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of Equatorial Guinea's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry efforts to improve living conditions in rural communities, Minister Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue has heavily invested in the country's rural development through a nationwide zinc roofs campaign.

"The zinc roofs campaign was launched as an initiative of Minister Nguema to change the living situation of low-income families that live under nipa roofs," said Director General of Agriculture Jose Juan Ndong Tomin in a recent interview. "In addition to the zinc roofs campaign, the Ministry has provided rural sustainable development programs, where rural communities receive technological, water-development, health and education packages to improve their living situation. We give them the foundation to better run their communities."

The ministry has replaced 119,00 nipa roofs (made of palm fronds) in South-Center province and 145,000 in Kie-ntem, both in the country's African continental territory. Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture is working with the Wele-mzas provincial authorities to conduct a census to determine how many roofs need to be replaced in that region. Once they gather and process the census data, which include dimensions of the structures affected, officials will determine how many zinc sheets are needed. The factory then produces the zinc sheets and the installation begins.

"As part of Minister Nguema's efforts to contribute to development of rural communities, he travels with a well-equipped team that provides free medical attention to anyone in those communities," said Director General Ndong.

The Ministry of Agriculture will launch a follow-up project in each province six to seven months after the zinc roofs are installed, to determine the conditions of the new roofs. The follow-up project will ensure that the new roofs are working properly and collect any feedback from residents.

After the zinc roofs campaign is completed in Litoral, the fourth province of the continental region the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will conclude the zinc-roofs campaign on the islands of Bioko and Annobon.

About Equatorial Guinea
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (La Republica de Guinea Equatorial) 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 The Republic of Equatorial Guinea