Meeting of the Board of Directors of ONAPAC: Return to the challenges of Congolese agriculture
On October 3, 2023, the second session of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Office of Agricultural Products of Congo (ONAPAC) was held at the Maiko Room of the Memling Hotel. Under the direction of Mr. Muke Mukengeshayi, PCA of ONAPAC, this meeting brought together the General Management, the Administrators, the Secretary General of the Board of Directors, as well as the Representative of the Minister of Agriculture.
During this meeting, the PCA recalled the context in which ONAPAC operates as well as its state missions. He stressed that ONAPAC does not deal with all agricultural products, but only around twenty products intended for export such as coffee, cocoa, rubber, cinchona, papaya, vanilla. and medicinal plants. He also highlighted the role of ONAPAC in supervising planters, processing, storage and transit, thus covering the entire production chain up to export. ONAPAC also plays a crucial role in analyzing the quality of products, thereby determining their prices in the international market.
However, the PCA expressed the difficulties encountered by ONAPAC in effectively mobilizing its annual budget. While the costs are estimated at more than $15 million, only $3 million is mobilized, which does not allow ONAPAC to fully cover its expenses. This situation has a direct impact on the salaries of ONAPAC employees, who are not paid 100%.
The PCA also warned of the delaying tactics of certain members of the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC), aimed at reducing the advantages of ONAPAC. He highlighted the harmful consequences of such actions for ONAPAC, which is already struggling to mobilize its budget. He thus requested the support of the Minister of Agriculture to counter this project detrimental to ONAPAC.
This meeting of the ONAPAC Board of Directors highlighted the challenges facing Congolese agriculture, particularly with regard to the export of certain agricultural products. It therefore remains crucial to support and strengthen this institution so that it can fully fulfill its missions and contribute to the development of the agricultural sector in Congo.