In the dynamic world of Congolese agriculture, one voice is heard: that of the market gardeners of the Domaine agro-industriel présidentiel de la N’Sele (Daipn), in search of a life-saving innovation: the opening of an agricultural pharmacy. This initiative, advocated by the courageous coordinator of the Coopérative des maraîchers de la N’Sele, Jules Yamfu, reveals a crucial issue for improving agricultural production in the region.
The advocacy of these brave farmers highlights an essential need: that of having access to quality products to guarantee optimal harvests. By highlighting the responsible use of natural resources, such as chicken manure as fertilizer, the market gardeners of Daipn demonstrate their commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.
With more than 20,000 market gardeners working hard on the site, Daipn has become an essential supply hub for the inhabitants of Kinshasa as well as for the Chinese community. However, despite these successes, challenges persist, including the issue of access to water, which is vital for any agricultural activity. This precarious situation underlines the importance of urgent intervention by the authorities to ensure the sustainability of these farms.
The proposal to set up an agricultural pharmacy, offering products and technologies adapted to the needs of market gardeners, represents a significant step towards more efficient and environmentally friendly agriculture. By promoting the dissemination of repellent and curative plants as well as biological control methods, this approach will help improve crop health while reducing the use of chemical inputs.
Furthermore, the N’Sele market gardeners’ cooperative is legitimately calling for official recognition by the authorities, in order to protect their site from attempts at dispossession and to benefit from the necessary support to continue developing quality and sustainable agriculture.
In conclusion, the initiative of the Daipn market gardeners demonstrates their commitment to responsible and efficient agriculture. By meeting their basic needs, such as access to quality inputs and sufficient water resources, the Congolese authorities could effectively support the development of this vital sector for the local economy. The opening of an agricultural pharmacy thus appears to be an essential step towards healthier, more productive and more environmentally friendly agriculture.