Kinshasa, July 8, 2024 (Fatshimetrie) – The Democratic Republic of Congo shines once again for its commitment to agricultural cooperatives, key players in rural development and the empowerment of local communities. Members of the National Confederation of Agricultural Producers of Congo (Conapac) responded to the call to celebrate a day dedicated to cooperatives in their respective provinces, aware of the strategic importance of this model for the country.
Under the enlightened presidency of Espérance Nzuzi, the Conapac Board of Directors strongly encouraged the members of the association to fully participate in this dynamic of promoting cooperatives, real levers of progress within rural communities. Congolese. The vision of the President of the Republic, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, for the development of cooperatives was praised, highlighting how these structures contribute significantly to sustainable development and the empowerment of women.
The recent celebration of the International Day of Cooperatives, orchestrated by the Ministry of Rural Development in collaboration with the National Service of Cooperatives and Peasant Organizations, was an opportunity for Conapac to highlight the prodigious productions of the members of the Kongo cooperatives -central. Under the universal theme “Cooperatives build a better future for all” and the national theme “The Democratic Republic of Congo can aspire to a better and sustainable future thanks to the activities of cooperative societies”, the event highlighted the capital importance of cooperatives in the current context.
The director of the National Service of Cooperatives and Peasant Organizations, Blaise Lokwa, stressed the need for a clear policy towards cooperatives to achieve sustainable development objectives. He highlighted avenues such as the adaptation of cooperative legislation to Congolese reality, the creation of agricultural banks to finance cooperative activities at reasonable interest rates, as well as the establishment of a national fund. aid to cooperative societies. Already underway, the registration and registration process for cooperatives and their federations promises to bring greater transparency and monitoring in this crucial sector.
The Democratic Republic of Congo thus asserts itself as a major player in the promotion and development of agricultural cooperatives, the foundations of a better future for all. This commitment to rural communities demonstrates an ambitious vision geared towards sustainable and inclusive progress for the entire country.