Congo smallholder agricultural development

The implementing agency, CARE, will refurbish and build crop warehouses, help farmer pre-cooperatives assume crop marketing tasks, and analyze constraints such as poor roads, unimproved seeds, and lack of farm tools and rural technology. The project will work with Groupements Pre-Cooperatifs (GPC"s) to establish improved crop storage, protection, and marketing systems. GPC"s will gradually take on increasing responsibility for operating a network of 20 crop storage depots, 9 of which will be constructed under the project and 11 of which will be refurbished. The project will provide farmers with incentives (e.g., free crop storage and grain sacks) to join GPC"s. A multipurpose training center will be constructed in the town of Mossendjo. There, training in pesticide application and other areas will be provided for 20 warehouses managers and 5 zone chiefs; the latter will also be trained in supervision and monitoring. Also targeted for training are GOC agricultural and cooperative personnel, staff of Union Locale des Paysans (an organization to coordinate and support GPC activities), and staff of the parastatal marketing organization Office des Cultures Vivrieres. District offices for the Union Locale will be located at the training center. Finally, the project will undertake data collection and analysis activities and will prepare feasibility studies identifying the Niari region"s needs for rural road upgrading, crop improvement, and rural technology.