FAO and EU reactivate agricultural and forestry research in DR Congo
After more than four years of supporting agricultural and forestry research in Congo, FAO, in cooperation with her specialized partners and the EU, has reached its objectives: REAFOR is almost completed
© Trias
FAO, in partnership with the European Union (EU) and with the help of its partners, has reactivated the agricultural and forestry research in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this way, FAO wants to safeguard one of the world’s most precious ecosystems. This is fundamental to protect the valuable resources of the country and to improve the livelihood of the people who live in and around the forests. These people depend on forestry in order to have an income.
With its precious resources, huge surfaces of arable land and enormous forests, the Democratic Republic of Congo is a very rich country. Nevertheless, the population is very poor - 70 percent is undernourished - and it is not yet known how to let the forests and lands develop in such a way that they can be safeguarded.
That is why it is so important to carry out research. Years ago, Congo was conducting a great deal of research, but after a long time of lethargy there were only a few scientists left. Fortunately, in 2006, the EU set to work a couple of scientist teams. It was the start of a great initiative to support the agricultural and forest research in Congo, known by its French acronym as REAFOR.
REAFOR is led by FAO, who works with its professional partners CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research), IITA (the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture), INERA (the National Institute for Agronomic Study and Research) and UNIKIS (the University of Kisangani), and funded by the EU with almost 8 million Euros. As a result, REAFOR is now almost completed.
A total of 48 students, 13 PhDs and 35 MScs, are currently working on forestry research and 24 students, 5 PhDs and 19 MScs, are carrying out agricultural research. The forestry research projects want to preserve the ecosystem while improving the livelihood of the people who live in and around the forests. The agricultural research projects investigate basic Congolese food crops, such as cassava and plantain, and search for ways to produce more and better plants while safeguarding the ecosystem and the environment.
As a conclusion, the reactivation of the agricultural and forestry research is almost completed and the objectives are reached. Now it is up to Congo to continue the research.