Good practices for the reduction of food losses in cereals and grains chains arriving to the provinces of Kwilu and Central Congo

Kinshasa, 6 April 2016: eight artisans selected and designated by producers groups, administrators of warehouses and inspections of agriculture, fishery, livestock and rural development, two from each territory of Bulungu and Idiofa in Kwilu Province, and of Seke-Banza and Luozi in Central Congo Province, have successfully concluded a one-month training session on building hermetic metal silos. The training was delivered by the National Institute for Professional Preparation (acronym in French INPP), as part of the activities implemented in the framework of the project “Mainstreaming food loss reduction initiatives for smallholders in food deficit areas”, funded by the Swiss Government and implemented by FAO in collaboration with IFAD and WFP. 

During this ceremony, FAO Assistant Representative in DRC in charge of the Programme recognized the importance of the partnership between the Rome-based agencies of the UN and the INPP, as well as the support of the Swiss Government, that allowed in a very short time to train some artisans on this particular technology for reducing food losses. Mr Robert Ngonde stated that in this way FAO, IFAD and WFP contribute to enhance food security and increase in income for men and women producers by reducing food losses in the provinces of Central Congo and Kwilu.

“The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo engaged through the National Agricultural Investment Plan towards a path of development,” said the representative of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Livestock. "The added value of this project, especially in its part related to capacity strengthening in building hermetic metal silos for better conditions of grains storage, is going to raise awareness of the small farmers and to support their higher income as well as their food security" has stressed André Lusakweno.   

Following this training, it is expected that the trained artisans will be involved in building 25 pilot silos. During this practice, the new experts on silos will be teaching other artisans in their territories. A quality control of the silos built in the areas will be undertaken. In addition, the technical and economic feasibility analysis of the silos produced locally will be assessed in the framework of pilot projects funded with mini-grants, as well their accessibility and acceptability by men and women producers in these areas.  

The ADG of INPP has expressed her satisfaction concerning this collaboration with the Rome-based UN agencies. According to Ms Claudine Ndusi, by training these eight artisans on building the metal silos, her institution is contributing to bring adapted solutions for the problem of grains storage that producers encounter every day in the field. 

More info here (in French).

Photos: ©FAO/ Xavier Farhay