Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Likasi (Agenzia Fides) - The world financial crisis has swollen the lines of jobless people, increasing hunger and malnutrition in south-east Congo. The wake of the global financial crisis continues in the province of Katanga, where the copper industry has suffered from the closure of many companies and the sacking of many miners. It is not surprising therefore that the level of malnutrition has grown in the area. In addition there is the almost total loss of knowledge of methods of farming, after decades spent working in the mining industry. As a result many mining families have become unfamiliar with farming activity and tend to have an unbalanced diet. Every year hundreds of mothers come with undernourished children to Likasi Health Centre and in this situation a local NGO Vipatu, has launched a project, with is now backed by the World Food Programme, aimed to help those families which come with undernourished children to the Centre for assistance.
“To be brief, we teach them to work the land”, says Vipatu coordinator Fidel Mwayile. When the children have recovered, the families are involved in the farming project which includes lessons in farming methods as well as attention for a diversification of food produce in order to improve eating habits. The Project also helps the families to increase income by selling farm produce at the local markets. Today, in Likasi, dozens of women are involved in planting and watering the fields. Half the produce is sold at local markets and the other half is consumed by the 2,400 families which work on the Project. (AP) (3/5/2010 Agenzia Fides)
