PC(USA) - Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Situation Report Update on Congo

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Democratic Republic of Congo

Food Security Program

Micro Devru (Foods Resource Bank Project)

October, 2006

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Note: The full Micro Devru report is available to download and print.

During 2005, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance began a four-year food security program in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The program, called Micro Devru, is being implemented in cooperation with the Foods Resource Bank through the Project for Development in East-Kasai (PRODEK) — a development arm of the Presbyterian Community of Congo (CPC).

Micro Devru has enabled thousands of Congo’s farmers to receive high-

Photo of project participants looking at rows of healthy plants in pots
Participants of the program look over rows of healthy plants. Photo submitted by Wayne Niles.

Position Announcement:
Food Security & Agricultural Development Specialist

yielding and disease resistant seed of cassava, peanut, cowpea, and palm. These are significant contributions to the livelihoods of association members and their families. In addition to providing seed and tools, information on soil restoration and pest control using natural pesticides is being provided along with initiatives to organize communities in supporting their health centers with community gardens.

The first year was a success, and all goals set forth for the program were met. “Staying the course with modest expansion” would best describe the second year plan. One of the proposed expansions includes establishing gardens of disease resistant cassava on the east side of the Kwilu River — activities in year one focused on serving groups on the western side.

Another initiative for year two involves the establishment of a forestation project. This initiative would be modeled on a project on a savanna on the Bateke plateau, where trees were established on 8,000 hectares (ha) of previously barren grassland. After eight years of growth, the trees are cut for charcoal to supply the demand for cooking fuel in Kinshasa. The trees build up the soil such that cassava planted in the cut areas yields 30,000 kilograms (kg)/ha, whereas 6,000 kg is typical of savanna lands around the projects. Maize yields are equally impressive. After a year of cropping, the trees are re-established. This is essentially a sustainable system that involves an eight-year rotation. The project has found that a typical family managing an eight-hectare farm can sustainably earn $6,000 - $8,000 per year from the sale of charcoal, cassava, maize, and other by-products such as honey. This is a significant in a country where the per capita income is $300 per year.

Information for this report was provided by Wayne Niles, Ph.D. (agronomist), an American Baptist Missionary.

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