Congo partners IITA, targets 1,000 jobs from agriculture yearly

TWO senior Advisors in the office of the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Drs John Ulimwengu and Kamwanga Masankisa are in Nigeria to explore areas of partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The move is part of DR Congo’s efforts to transform its agricultural potential, create wealth, and jobs for the rapidly growing youth population.

Ulimwengu said: “DR Congo needs to create jobs for the increasing youth population and agriculture can create those jobs.”

Speaking during a seminar presentation at IITA, Ulimwengu said: “Our estimate is that DR Congo needs 1000 jobs annually to solve the growing unemployment.”

Located in Central Africa, DR Congo according to a statement issued by IITA has vast arable land and a potential to feed the most of Africa, pointing out that “ About 90 percent of the country’s population in the rural areas is engaged in agriculture. Furthermore, the country plays host to more than 50 percent of Africa’s surface water”.

Explaining further, Ulimwengu said: “Yet the country depends on food imports, and this is not good for the country. We hope that collaborating with IITA will help us advance and bring benefits of agricultural research to our country.”

IITA Director General, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga pledged the commitment of IITA to collaborate with the government of DR Congo.

Sanginga said: “We are ready to work with you and other countries in Africa to see how we can increase agricultural productivity and engage the youths in the sector so that they have decent jobs.”

Last year, DR Congo gave IITA a grant of $3milion to help support youth engagement in agriculture. The mineral-rich country is optimistic that a partnership with IITA would help accelerate its agricultural development akin to what has happened in Nigeria. In context, IITA’s Research-for-Development model has contributed in making Nigeria the world’s largest producer of cassava, cowpea and yams. Research on soybean has also been accelerated with a significant increase in domestic utilization of the crop.

Ulimwengu and Masankisa, took a tour of IITA campus, and visited labs, the IITA Business Incubation Platform, IITA Youth Agripreneurs’ fishponds, fish hatchery, postharvest unit, International Livestock Research Institute and Niji Farms.