Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
2 Define interventions responding to the needs of market gardeners in the
Centre Agricole de Kinshasa and define the specific roles, responsibilities
and actions of the actors involved in resolving conflicts linked to UA
3 Determine the bacteriological and chemical characteristics of irrigation
water that is used and its seasonal variations
4 Evaluate the use of certified compost of Projet de Compostie` re de Quartier
(PCQ) in producing vegetables (notably Amaranthus hybridus)
5 Propose alternative solutions for sustainable UA.
The following hypotheses were proposed:
Market gardeners of Kinshasa, like the rest of the Congolese population, are
poor; they are exposed to chemical and microbial contamination because of
the poor quality of irrigation water and their agricultural practices; and they
are limited in terms of organization, training and assistance.
.
UA is gender specific (in agricultural practices, social and economic levels); it
is also seasonal.
.
The water used for irrigation does not meet the acceptable bacteriological
and chemical levels for irrigation or drinking water and exhibits seasonal
variations.
.
Composting with certified PCQ compost of the Red Cross - Congo improves
the yield of vegetables produced.
.
M
ETHODS
Research on UA in Kinshasa was undertaken using the multi-actor ecosystem
participation approach (MEPA). According to this approach, UA is thought of
as an ecosystem, with different actors and physical milieus involved in
complex and multiple interactions. The actors are market gardeners, civil
society, the private sector, public power and researchers. The market gardener
is the central actor of the agro-ecosystem. Civil society represents organized
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or individuals and households who
influence the agri-ecosystem by sustaining agricultural production. The private
sector comprises all micro enterprises or enterprises influencing UA through
inputs and outputs. Public power is represented by the state as the regulator
of land in the city, sometimes to the benefit and other times to the detriment
of UA. Researchers look for solutions to the problems of UA through
observation, experiments or scientific analyses. Physical milieus are places
where UA activities such as production, transportation, marketing and
consumption take place. Interactions between the elements of this agri-
ecosystem are material and observable or virtual and non-observable.
Furthermore, these interactions are categorized as 'synergistic' if they promote
the safe practice of UA or 'antagonistic' if they limit it.
A team of 13 people (five women and eight men) was assembled; the team
included five market gardeners, four of whom were heads of groups of market
