Project to Support the Recovery of the Agricultural Sector in the Republic of Congo

The Republic of Congo has considerable agricultural potential with 10 million hectares of arable land, of which only 10% is developed. Despite these prospects, the country is still largely dependent on imports to satisfy its domestic demand for food products. The National Development Programme, based on the diversification of the economy, aim to promote the development of agriculture in order to improve the population's income and reduce imports.

The cocoa sector is one of the priority and promising value chain that have been identified as a pilot sector for economic diversification, creating jobs and income. Despite favourable agronomic conditions and the availability of agricultural land, the lack of support and advice, the disorganisation and lack of supervision of the sector's actors, as well as the lack of substantial investment in research and innovation, reduce economic performance and discourage producers.

Market gardening is also a priority sector because of its importance for food security, especially in Brazzaville. It has huge potential for local economic development and job creation for young people and women. Unfortunate, the lack of structuring of the sector does not allow it to respond satisfactorily to the challenges facing by both: producers and consumers.

The PARSA is a four-year project financed by AFD under a C2D agreement signed with the Congolese Government (8 million euros). It is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, supported by a technical assistance comprising CIRAD , ICRAF and led by TEREA. It aims to support the revival of the cocoa sector in the departments of Likouala, Sangha and the northern part of Cuvette and Cuvette-Ouest, on the one hand, and to support the development and structuring of market gardening in Brazzaville and its periphery, on the other.

The activities promoted by the project adopt a sustainable development perspective and fully take into account the main environmental and social issues: preservation of forest areas and biodiversity, promotion of organic or sustainable agriculture, support for family farms, specific measures for indigenous populations, women and youth, etc.