AGRIFOOD | Preparatory Workshop with FAO

In preparation of the launch of the food resilience project (AGRIFOOD Project), the Upemba National Park (UNP), through its Community Development and Conservation Department, held a workshop with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the General Secretariat of the National Ministry of Agriculture from July 12 to 13, 2023 in Kyubo, Mitwaba territory, Haut-Katanga Province.

The main objective of this workshop was to establish a framework for FAO’s technical support for the AGRIFOOD project funded by the Delegation of the European Union in the DRC. The said technical support is based on three fronts, namely access to quality high-performance seeds, extension through the Farmers' Field Schools (CEP) approach, and the management of post-harvest losses.

The discussions began with a presentation of FAO’s project for the implementation of an integrated support system for sustainable production and promotion of resilience in four landscapes of the DRC (GCP/DRC/089/EC). “Under this project, the donor has mandated us to make FAO expertise available to the AGRIFOOD project,” explained Mr. Serge Sabi Oleko (Project Manager, FAO) who was accompanied by Ms. Sandra Akenda (Head of Office, FAO-Lubumbashi). Representatives from the PNU Mr. Mickael Batakunda (Head of the Department of Community Development and Conservation, PNU) and Mr. Joel Nkala (Head of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, PNU) in turn presented the main lines of the AGRIFOOD project and current achievements. This was followed by a field trip to Musabila where the delegation was received by the “Chef de groupement” Musabila before a guided visit to the rice field of the Lwambi Kalenga Corporation (LCK).

The workshop was also enriched by the expertise of the delegation of the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture represented by Misters Placide Mukendi, Guka Kangale, and Bellarmin Nkwankwimbi, and that of the Provincial Inspection of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock (IPAPEL, Mitwaba) represented by Inspector Beya Mbayo. Other participants were Mr. Antonio Longangi (Head of a Communication, UNP), Mr. Serval Kipampa (Deputy Head of the Department of Community Development and Conservation, PNU), Mr. Floribert Wakaya (Manager, Radio Upemba) and Ms. Mwe Di Malila Soshana (Assistant to the Head of the Department of Community Development and Conservation, PNU).

The AGRIFOOD project aims to improve sustainable agricultural production and food resilience in the Upemba landscape and its urban agglomerations. The two days of joint work helped establish a channel for technical collaboration between the UNP and FAO with the participation of State institutions and the support of the Delegation of the European Union in the DRC. The launch of the project is scheduled for September and this workshop has started the engines for the 2023 agricultural campaign.