DRC : FOPAKKM launches "AVENIR Project"

By Badylon Kawanda Bakiman

The ‘’Kwilu, Kwango and Mai-Ndombe Famers’Federation’’ (FOPAKKM)’’, a platform under Congolese law of over 100 farmers' organizations working in the fields of Agriculture, Food Security, Environment and Sustainable Development, Kwilu province, in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has just officially launched the activities for the implementation of the project entitled “Empowerment through the promotion of nutrition-sensitive, inclusive and climate-change-resilient rural entrepreneurship (AVENIR)”.

The ceremonies took place in Kikwit on January 18 and in Masimanimba on January 20, 2025, and were attended by political and administrative authorities; delegates from farmers' organizations in the areas concerned; government departments involved in agriculture and food security; urban and territorial inspectorates for agriculture, rural development and the environment; other implementing partners; agricultural instructors; and others.

“This project is part of a global vision to reduce poverty and promote sustainable and inclusive agriculture. It targets the provinces bordering Kinshasa, notably Kwilu, Kwango, Kongo Central and Maï-Ndombe, with the aim of improving the living conditions of rural populations by strengthening their capacities and generating sustainable income through agriculture, and of flooding the markets of large conurbations with locally produced foodstuffs”, state the event's terms of reference.

The same document states that to achieve the expected results, FOPAKKM has set itself six specific objectives, as follows: - To support communities in managing natural resources responsibly and sustainably through participatory territorial planning; - To support the development of diversified agroforestry systems; - To support farmers in producing quality generic reproductive materials (seeds) that are available and accessible (seeds); - support the structuring (organizational, operational and managerial) of the organizations present in each of the AVENIR project's activity clusters; - support the marketing of agricultural produce by member households of farmers' organizations and participation in the various multi-stakeholder consultation frameworks.

“The DRC is a vast agricultural country, with over 70 percent of its population dependent on agriculture, livestock breeding and fishing. This project is very welcome”, acknowledged the mayor of Kikwit, Abe Ngiama, while inviting all stakeholders to get involved in the project to ensure its success.

Joseph Butoto, head of the AVENIR project in Kikwit, explained that the project began in August 2023 and will run for seven years.
“This is a project with a budget of $213.5 million. It should reach 450,000 households over the seven years of implementation, i.e. a total of 2.6 million people for the entire duration. Among these people we expect to have 50 percent women, 50 percent young people, including people living with disabilities,” he declared.

He added that implementation had begun with the setting up of a so-called “fixed” fund for all the activities that would follow afterwards. The launch in Kinshasa was followed by provincial workshops.
“Failure is not FOPAKKM,” reassured Blaise Nzwanga, Chairman of the umbrella organization's Board of Directors, while presenting a brief description of the platform he heads.

“FOPAKKM is a third-level structure. It was created to help agricultural producers improve their production and household incomes, making them more professional than before, and to defend their socio-economic rights and interests. FOPAKKM has always worked with partners to provide support. This umbrella organization is a member of the Confédération nationale des producteurs agricoles du Congo (CONAPAC)”, he explained.

He added that negotiations for the AVENIR project had been underway since 2022, and had continued to the present day.
For his part, Freddy Mumba, Executive Secretary of CONAPAC, welcomed the event and called on everyone to be responsible.
“In Masimanimba, the event was honored by the presence of the national president of CONAPAC, and all went smoothly,” said Christian Kuyana, executive secretary of FOPAKKM.

In both Kikwit and Masimanimba, Christian Kuyana outlined the activities of the AVENIR project throughout its implementation.
It should be noted that the AVENIR project has received funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Congolese government.