The National Office of Agricultural Products of Congo (ONAPAC) held its second meeting session of the Board of Directors for the year 2023 at the Memling Hotel. Under the leadership of Mr. Muke Mukengeshayi, PCA of ONAPAC, this meeting brought together the Director General, the Administrators and the Secretary General of the Board of Directors of ONAPAC, as well as the Representative of the Minister of Agriculture.
During this meeting, Mr. Muke Mukengeshayi underlined the essential role of ONAPAC in the supervision of agricultural products intended for export such as coffee, cocoa, rubber, cinchona, papaya, vanilla , pyrethrum and medicinal plants. He also clarified that ONAPAC does not deal with all agricultural products, contrary to popular belief. ONAPAC is responsible for supervising planters, processing, storage and transit, from production to export.
However, Mr. Muke Mukengeshayi raised the difficulties facing ONAPAC, notably the fact that the organization only manages to mobilize a fifth of its annual budget of 15 million dollars. This situation has an impact on the operation of the company, leading to delays in the payment of employees’ salaries.
The ONAPAC PCA also warned of attempts to reduce the benefits of ONAPAC, carried out by certain members of the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC). These maneuvers could endanger ONAPAC which is already struggling to mobilize its annual budget. Mr. Muke Mukengeshayi thus requested the support of the Minister of Agriculture, José Mpanda, to thwart these projects which could have harmful consequences for ONAPAC.
In conclusion, the ONAPAC Board of Directors meeting highlighted the challenges facing the organization. Despite its crucial role in regulating agricultural products intended for export, ONAPAC must face financial difficulties which compromise its proper functioning. It is essential to support ONAPAC in its mission to promote the development of the agricultural sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo.