Employing
local workers and using innovative farming techniques, a six-hectare
(15-acre) pilot project at Kitoko is yielding high-quality produce that
can be sold at prices significantly lower than the cost of imported food
from outside the DRC.
With
its sustainable farming practices and affordable produce, Kitoko is
taking important strides to combat chronic malnutrition in the DRC. At
the same time, the farm and its techniques are designed as a model that
can be easily replicated elsewhere, to become part of a global solution
for food security.
Workers at Kitoko, located about 30 miles from Kinshasa,
recently brought a truck loaded with boxes of sweet corn, peppers,
beans, eggplants, cabbage, tomatoes and other produce to local markets.
The European-quality vegetables created a stir, with market goers
marvelling at Kitoko's inexpensive, attractive offerings.
"I
never thought I'd see food of this wonderful quality available to the
poorer community here," said Mama Jeanin, a trader at a market stall.
"Using
and expanding the Kitoko model, we believe top-quality produce can be
plentiful and affordable for communities across the DRC," said Fleurette
senior advisor and GFF co-founder Dan Gertler. "Establishing similar farms in other provinces will help reduce hunger while boosting employment."
Kitoko
operates in a kibbutz-style system, and residents benefit from shared
facilities and services. When fully developed, Kitoko will include
on-site housing for 60 families, a primary school, a health clinic, an
agricultural training academy, and 1,500 acres under cultivation.
Using
Kitoko as a model, satellite farms are planned for all of the DRC's 11
provinces, and students trained at Kitoko will teach others about the
farm's high-tech irrigation and fertilization techniques. As more and
more Congolese learn Kitoko's methods and put their sustainable
agricultural skills to work, it will have a substantial impact on
creating jobs, providing affordable food, and improving the quality of
life across the DRC.
For further information about GFF, visit www.gertlerfamilyfoundation.org/en/
SOURCE Gertler Family FoundationDo you have a story to tell? Contact 'Let's Hear You!' and let us know! news@letshearyou.com