United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
Clara Padovan
16 October 2008
On World Food Day, celebrated on october 16th each year, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC, Ross Mountain visited "Mona Paradis" farm in Ndjili Brewery, close to Kinshasa. Seen as a pilot project for the preservation of biodiversity, the farm has the largest plantation of Asian fruits like mangosteen in the world.
Established 25 years ago by private initiative, the farm is today seen by many as a model of agro-pastoral achievement. It 120-hectare are has a breeding-ground, a botanical garden and a large variety of plantations. There are 7,000 trees including 18 varieties of mango trees, 50 palm trees, 6 fir trees, thousands bamboos from various countries (Australia, Indonesia, Brazil etc.) as well as mangosteen.
The farm owner, Jean Pierre Mbuku Mbumba briefed Ross Mountain and colleagues from MONUC on how he started up the farming business with just nine pigs and poultry such as ducks and pigeons. There are now three thousand pigs.
The Minister of Agriculture, Fishing and Farming, Nzanga Mobutu and representatives of the World Food Organization and the World Food Programme highlighted and encouraged the efforts made to develop this farm. With more resources, the pilot project will offer quality products to the population.
Agricultural tools were handed to some farmers and market gardeners on that occasion to encourage them to work further.
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