PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
'Food imports decline in Congo'
Brazzaville, Congo (PANA) - Congolese food import declined considerably with figures ranging from FCFA 60 billion to 90 billion against the FCFA 130 billion recorded five years ago, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Rigobert Maboundou.
Speaking here Friday on the sidelines of the 27th Regional Conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the minister said that the fall was due to deliberate efforts by the government and the private sector to promote agriculture across the country.
He said "Government efforts included the establishment of new farms across the country and support to the private sector illustrated by the Bareto Farm in Pointe-Noire, which can produce 20,000 eggs per day, and other small-scale farms in the outskirts of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire (south)."
According to the minister, Congo, however, must continue to make efforts to fill the gaps, "because apart from cassava, the balance of other products remained minimal".
Experts say "With less than four million people, Congo is involved in expensive imports to meet people’s food needs. Products imported included meat, fish, poultry and other agricultural products.
"Yet, from the country's huge areas of fertile land, only 2 per cent are exploited by small-scale farmers who use traditional means of farming."
Maboundou said that the government attached priority interest in the fight against food insecurity.
-0- PANA MB/JSG/JEN/VAO 27April2012
Speaking here Friday on the sidelines of the 27th Regional Conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the minister said that the fall was due to deliberate efforts by the government and the private sector to promote agriculture across the country.
He said "Government efforts included the establishment of new farms across the country and support to the private sector illustrated by the Bareto Farm in Pointe-Noire, which can produce 20,000 eggs per day, and other small-scale farms in the outskirts of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire (south)."
According to the minister, Congo, however, must continue to make efforts to fill the gaps, "because apart from cassava, the balance of other products remained minimal".
Experts say "With less than four million people, Congo is involved in expensive imports to meet people’s food needs. Products imported included meat, fish, poultry and other agricultural products.
"Yet, from the country's huge areas of fertile land, only 2 per cent are exploited by small-scale farmers who use traditional means of farming."
Maboundou said that the government attached priority interest in the fight against food insecurity.
-0- PANA MB/JSG/JEN/VAO 27April2012
