As part of the rural development activities of the Salonga program (funded by the European Union) ISCO aims at improving the sustainability of farming practices and increase farmers’ incomes. As part of this line of activity community fields were created last year. During a mission in May to the village of Ngunda ISCO found 6 hectares of cassava already installed and 1 ha of peanuts in this small village in good condition. The majority of the first rice fields planted in March 2017 are also ready for harvest.
These community fields are plots that are created using improved farming practices which can be observed at a pilot farm. Communities can then replicate these practices on additional lands. In addition an oil palm nursery was also set up in May, with 168 first seeds installed. The oil palms will be distributed in the community. The are a variety that holds higher yields than the ones common on community fields around Salonga.
In parallel, ISCO supports the organization of local community groups and sensitization of communities for the protection of the National Park and the sustainable management of natural resources. As such, the animators reached out to 625 people (385 men and 240 women) this month (May) on these themes!