Fatshimetrie, the rural and agricultural news magazine in Maniema, has just published a fascinating report on the seven nursery stations benefiting from the Support Program for Rural, Inclusive and Resilient Development (PADRIR) in the Kindu region. Funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), this program enabled the distribution of claria and tilapia fish seeds to these stations, generating a significant impact on the local community.
Five of the stations are located in Kindu itself, thus offering economic development opportunities to residents of the region. Another station is in Nyoka, and a final one in Salokwango, both beneficiaries of this innovative program.
During a recent joint supervision mission between the government and IFAD, station managers expressed their gratitude for the support provided by PADRIR. However, they also raised certain difficulties encountered in the field and made specific requests to improve the success of the project.
The Mukulumania peasant organization, with 30 members including 12 women, received claria and tilapia seeds for the development of its fish ponds, as well as a quarantine tank. The fry are doing well, but the president of the organization, Jean Mbukani, highlighted the obstacles encountered, particularly in terms of sanitation, agricultural tools and guarding, essential aspects for the sustainability of the activity.
He also highlighted the need for a machine for manufacturing local recipes, as well as the need for continued training and adequate information for members of the organization. According to PADRIR, the final objective is to establish twelve hatchery stations in the Maniema region in order to facilitate fish farming households’ access to improved fry.
This supervision mission was therefore an opportunity for the beneficiaries to welcome the support of PADRIR, while expressing the desire for reinforced support to ensure the sustainability and success of the project. This participatory and caring approach demonstrates the importance of community involvement in rural development, as well as the need to respond effectively to the specific needs of local stakeholders to ensure a transition towards more sustainable and resilient agriculture.