Since Monday, March 11, the delegation from the Republic of Congo has been present in Maricá, Rio de Janeiro, on a study visit, supported by the USDA’s McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program and India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) fund, to learn about family farming initiatives, agricultural cooperatives, quilombola communities and public schools as part of the project ‘Enhancing Family Farmers access to local markets in the Republic of Congo through South-South Cooperation´.
At the beginning of the week, alternative food processing methods were presented, such as the manufacture of different types of flour, including taioba, cassava and guandu beans, by Emporio I Piatti, which subsequently produces pasta distributed to the municipality’s public schools. The dehydration process that preserves food at the Prefeito Édio Muniz Dehydrated Food Factory was also demonstrated.
In addition, five public schools were visited, analysing the practical implementation of the National School Feeding Programme (PNAE, in Portuguese), with emphasis on the Guarani Para Poty Indigenous School, a bilingual school (Portuguese and Guarani) that integrates school meals with the students’ cultural aspects.
The delegation also visited the Joaquin Piñero Public Farm, recognised for its diversity of crops and agroecological production, which offers educational activities and food for public institutions, and the Agroecological Plaza, a free public space that encourages the production of organic food using environmentally friendly techniques.
Since late yesterday afternoon (14), the delegation has been taking part in sessions with the National Institute for Colonisation and Agrarian Reform (INCRA, in Portuguese) on land administration and agricultural production, and with the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (ALERJ, in Portuguese) to discuss intersectoral coordination related to progress in implementing the PNAE.
Next week, the delegation will continue its study visit in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, where they will explore other initiatives that help in the planning to improve food and nutrition security in Congo.
About the project
The project ‘Enhancing Family Farmers’ Access to Local Markets in the Republic of Congo through South-South Cooperation’ is an initiative of the World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence against Hunger Brazil, in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Congo, the Government of Brazil and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), which was launched in September 2023, financed by the IBSA fund (India, Brazil and South Africa).
The project aims to enable the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAEP) and the Ministry of Pre-School, Primary, Secondary and Literacy Education (MEPPSA) to use knowledge and innovations from Brazil and other IBSA partners in family farming and school feeding programmes.
Implementation of the project will take place over two years in the departments of Bouenza, Plateaux and Pool, involving institutional strengthening of the relevant ministries, training of family farmer cooperatives and school