Food Security Congo, Democratic Republic of the Project #35182

Break Near-starvation Cycle for Congolese Farmers

by Coordination Technique Pour Le Developpment (CTD)

Project Report | Nov 19, 2019
WHAT WERE YOU doing in October 1997?

By Janet T. Cook | Project Director

CTD agronomist helps woman prep land for planting

WHAT WERE YOU doing in October 1997?

In the Congo, people were recovering from years of civil war, the overthrow of longtime dictator Mobuto, and the change of the country's name from Zaire to Democratic Republic of Congo. During this brief period of calm before another civil war began (1998-2003), a group of 22 forward-thinking young professionals organized a Non-Governmental-Organization dedicated to relieving suffering in their newly formed country. Coordination technique pour le developpement, known as CTD, was born. Through 5 years of intense civil war, during which an estimated 5 million died from starvation as well as armed conflict, CTD doctors, agronomists, nurses, and educators continued their charitable services.

Twenty-two years later, CTD is still changing lives!

Your donations toward the "Break Near-starvation Cycle for Congolese Farmers" project pay for the certified seed, fertilizer, and insecticide that support CTD's volunteer agronomists' efforts, which have already changed the lives of over 150 families in the remote Kafubu Valley of south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The changes you have supported are breathtaking!

The 2019 growing season was extremely difficult. Extremely powerful rainstorms washed away the newly emerging corn plants. CTD agronomists taught the subsistence farmers to replant with beans and cabbage, crops with shorter growing seasons. The harvests were bountiful, crops were transported by CTD to city markets, and farm families earned enough to feed themselves, pay back the agreed-upon amount to CTD (to expand the number of participants in 2019), reserve seed and money for planting in 2019, pay children's school tuition, and improve their homes. These families, who in the past faced starvation during poor growing seasons, now implement best-farming-practices and look forward to a stable future---all because of your support.

So, WHAT ARE YOU doing in November and December 2019?

Continue your donations to CTD and continue changing lives!

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Aug 23, 2019
Teach a Family to Feed Themselves Forever!

By Janet T. Cook | Project Director

Women shelling corn, prepping for sale

TEACHING CONGOLESE FARM FAMILIES TO FEED THEMSELVES FOR A LIFETIME

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Give a family some food and you feed them for a day; teach a family to grow food and you feed them for a lifetime.

The project to Break Near-starvation Cycle for Congolese Farmers is a classic example of teaching families to feed themselves for a lifetime.

In the first 12 months of the project (Nov. 2017-Nov. 2018), over 55 subsistence farm families in the Kafubu Valley did not risk starvation in order to save enough seed for the next planting.

These families were taught by professional agronomists how to properly prepare their acre plots of land for farming. These families learned first-hand the value of quality seed and fertilizer. They were taught to recognize the best time and process to plant their precious seeds. They learned how to care for the new plants. They came to understand the importance of proper harvesting and crop rotation to reinvigorate the soil.

These families not only harvested enough to feed themselves while saving seed for the next planting season; for the first time in generations, they had a crop surplus to SELL! Money for children's school tuition, required uniforms, and paper! Money for a tin roof! Money for a bicycle! Lives were changed!

In 2019, thanks to over 60 generous new donors and several recurring contributors, the number of families being taught almost doubled. The year, almost 100 farm families' lives are being changed forever as they learn how to feed themselves! Your continued support is breaking the starvation cycle. Thank you!

Family preparing corn for sale

Farmers with surplus corn to sell

Women bagging harvested corn

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May 29, 2019
Headline from Congo:Near-starvation Cycle Breaking

By Janet T. Cook | Project Director

Farmer fertilizing young plants

Parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo continually make grim world headlines:

"1000 Ebola Deaths in North-east Congo."

"Death Toll Rising from Fighting in North-western Kinshasa."

But in the Kafubu Valley in south-eastern Congo, today's headlines would be much different:

"Corn Plants Strengthened by Smart Fertilizer Application Survive 2-Month Drought Followed by Torrential Rains. Abundant Harvest to Begin Soon."

"Beans Planted in February Survive Heavy April Rains Due to New Drainage Plan. Good Harvest Expected."

"Cassava Planted in March Recovers from April Hail Storm Due to Strong Root Systems. Good Harvest Expected."

Prior to late-2017, before agricultural training by CTD began, the yearly headlines were:

"Farmers in the Kafubu Valley Suffer More Crop Failures. Starvation Always a Possibility."

Instead, their crops are thriving---even in the unseasonal drought and torrential rains of 2019!

The difference is because of YOU, THE DONORS TO CTD.

YOU HAVE BROKEN THE NEAR-STARVATION CYCLE!

You paid for the professional agronomists. You paid for the quality seed. You paid for fertilizer.

Since November 2017, these subsistence farmers have been taught better ways to lay out their tiny fields before planting, facilitating drainage when rain is too heavy. They have learned new ways to prepare soil prior to planting which helps maintain moisture during weeks of unusual drought. They were guided to properly apply fertilizer to maximize plant strength to withstand challenging weather conditions. During the 2019 rainy season, they experienced drought, torrential rain, and hail. But their crops survived! There will be food for the coming year and money reserved for school fees, health needs, seeds, and fertilizer.

Thank you for your new and your recurring contributions. Without your support, the headlines would have continued to be heart-breaking. With your support, we will help many more farmers this year. You are changing the lives of these families for generations to come.

Students by Drainage Ditch

Corn Damaged by Hail

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