ONAPAC Board of Directors meeting in 2023: Challenges ahead for Congolese agriculture
The second session of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Office of Agricultural Products of Congo (ONAPAC) was held on October 3, 2023 at the Maiko Room of the Memling Hotel. This meeting, chaired by Mr. Muke Mukengeshayi, PCA of ONAPAC, brought together the Director General, the Administrators and the Secretary General of the Board of Directors, as well as the Representative of the Minister of Agriculture.
The objective of this meeting was to discuss the current context of ONAPAC and the challenges it faces in its mission of supervising agricultural products intended for export. Me. Muke Mukengeshayi stressed that ONAPAC focuses on around twenty agricultural products, such as coffee, cocoa, rubber, cinchona, papaya, vanilla and medicinal plants. He also specified that ONAPAC plays a crucial role in supervising planters, processing, storage and transit, thus ensuring the entire production chain up to export.
However, ONAPAC faces significant financial difficulties. According to the PCA, out of an annual budget of 15 million dollars, only a fraction of 3 million is actually mobilized, which does not cover all ONAPAC expenses. The salaries of ONAPAC agents and executives are also impacted by this precarious financial situation.
The PCA also warned of the delaying tactics of certain economic operators, members of the FEC, who call into question the advantages granted to ONAPAC. In fact, these operators believe that the service costs reserved for ONAPAC (set at 2% on agricultural products) are too high. This questioning could have very detrimental consequences for ONAPAC, already in financial difficulties.
Faced with this situation, the PCA requested the support of the Minister of Agriculture to counter these attacks and ensure the survival of ONAPAC. It is essential to preserve this organization which plays a key role in the development of Congolese agriculture and in the promotion of Congolese agricultural products on the international market.
In conclusion, the ONAPAC Board of Directors meeting in 2023 highlighted the challenges facing this organization. Despite financial difficulties, it continues to provide essential support to Congolese farmers and promote Congolese agricultural products internationally. It is now essential to find sustainable solutions to ensure the sustainability of ONAPAC and the development of Congolese agriculture.