The final event of the 3rd edition of the tractor race in Tshela, Kongo Central, recently captured the attention of many stakeholders in the agricultural sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Organized by the Blattner Elwyn Agri Group (GBE), this spectacle highlighted the skills of agricultural drivers, providing a platform where women particularly distinguished themselves.
Jolie Lompela Boyoo, from the Compagnie des Plantations de Ndeke, brilliantly won the women’s category with an impressive time of 3 minutes 38 seconds. She rightly highlighted the importance of this competition as a symbol of the growing commitment of women in the agricultural sector. Her testimony perfectly illustrates the rise of women’s contribution to a field long dominated by men.
On the men’s side, Nubea Wasido, from the Société de Cultures de Binga, also achieved an exceptional performance by winning the competition with a record time of 2 minutes 31 seconds. Its success is a testament to the professional excellence that GBE Agri seeks to promote among agricultural drivers, thus highlighting the skills and experience that make the difference in this field.
Launched in 2022 under the initiative of Cédric Thaunay, Chairman and CEO of GBE Agri, the tractor race is part of an approach aimed at promoting professional excellence and highlighting the central role of agriculture in the country’s economic development. More than just a competition, this event encourages competitiveness and promotes balanced participation between men and women, thus breathing new life into the Congolese agricultural sector.
The presence of female tractor drivers in the competition reflects a profound change in a sector long marked by restrictive gender dynamics. The victory of Jolie Lompela Boyoo and other female participants reinforces the idea that agriculture is no longer exclusively the preserve of men, but a field where talents and skills are deployed without distinction of gender.
Beyond the competition itself, the tractor race organized by GBE Agri has an important symbolic and social dimension. By highlighting the talents of agricultural drivers and encouraging the participation of women, this event contributes to strengthening the country’s food autonomy, stimulating the local economy and promoting the emergence of more inclusive and efficient agriculture.
The support of committed sponsors such as DRC (Développement Rural au Congo), PALMELIT and CASE underlines the growing importance of the tractor race as a unifying and mobilizing event. By encouraging excellence, equal opportunities and the promotion of human resources, GBE Agri affirms its vision of actively contributing to the sustainable and balanced development of agriculture in the DRC.
In conclusion, the tractor race appears as an essential catalyst in the transformation of the Congolese agricultural sector. By valuing the talent of drivers, by promoting balanced participation between men and women and by promoting modern and efficient agriculture, this event marks a significant step towards a more prosperous and sustainable future for agriculture in the Democratic Republic of Congo.