The Francophonie Institute for Sustainable Development (IFDD) organized from July 3 to 7, 2023 in Kinshasa (DRC) a practical and ecological training on sustainable agriculture, for 42 young enthusiasts, including 12 girls (or 28,57% women), from Congo and the DRC.

During this valuable learning opportunity, they demonstrated remarkable commitment and a clear desire to learn about sustainable agricultural practices. As a result, they were able to acquire practical and theoretical knowledge to support their professional development in the field of sustainable agriculture.

Time stood still in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, July 3, 2023 during the launch ceremony of the practical and ecological training in sustainable agriculture which took place in the packed Monekosso room of the University of Kinshasa.

After the welcoming address by Professor Patrick MEMVANGA, coordinator of CRITESS and PIRAM, Tounao KIRI, the main coordinator of the IFDD, gave a speech focused on sustainable development and poverty reduction through agriculture as a key element for economic development. This was followed by a speech by Professor Odilon GAMELA, Rector of KONGO University, who placed research and innovation within the framework of the PDTIE. Subsequently, Professor Émile NGOY KASONGO, Secretary General for Research at UNIKIN, encouraged the young learners to take ownership of the tools that will be made available to them. In addition, Marie-Thérèse KAMUNGA, Deputy General Delegate of the Francophonie in the DRC, and Professor KINKELA, Dean of the Faculties of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences at the University of Kinshasa, in turn expressed their full support for the PDTIE.

Following the launch ceremony for the practical and ecological training in sustainable agriculture, the young innovators presented and sold their products in a friendly atmosphere, demonstrating the capacity of young people to bring about change and bring to life inspiring ideas that carry the potential for structural transformation. Coming from different corners of the city of Kinshasa, it was with vibrant excitement that the young people welcomed the official presentation of the first 8 promising innovations from CRITESS. With adequate support for the young innovators, initial results are already evident: anti-malarial tablets, suppositories for hemorrhoids, dietary supplements, as well as soaps, toothpastes, and vasodilator ointments. These tailored innovations contribute to creating wealth and jobs.

On the afternoon of July 3, 2023, a session on sustainable agriculture was led by Lionelle NGO SAMNICK. Informative discussions took place with the young beneficiaries of the practical training. They discussed current issues and avenues for sustainability in the field of agriculture. Lionelle NGO SAMNICK placed particular emphasis on farm design, technological advances and circular agriculture, as well as agricultural profitability and the value chain. Her objective was to encourage young people to develop strategies to ensure the sustainability of their agricultural system while enabling them to improve farm incomes.

The young people were then divided into different groups:

• The first group addressed the production of bio-inputs such as bio-insecticides, bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers.
• The second group focused on the recovery of agricultural waste, particularly the production of green coal.

THE Tuesday, July 4, 2023, was a new experience for the learners. From progress to progress, they reconciled theory with practice, on the concepts learned during the training in sustainable agriculture, under the supervision of Father Pierre LOKADI LUHATA at the KIMWENZA site:

• The production of green coal to promote sustainable ecological energy and combat environmental pollution with an entrepreneurial aim.
• The recovery of agricultural waste (the production of compost and biogas) from digesta, under anaerobic conditions, the recovery of methane gas (Ch4) as well as the experimentation of the mixture of ash and digesta to fertilize the soil.

On the afternoon of July 4, the practical session took place at the CRITESS laboratory at UNIKIN, with the production of bio-inputs (bio-insecticides, bio-pesticides, bio-fertilizers) under the supervision of pharmacist Serge NDOMBASI. The students practiced preparing bio-pesticides based on garlic, chili, moringa, lemongrass, and papaya to control plantation pests. The biological experience was intense. The students took turns using the various laboratory equipment.

THE Wednesday, July 5, 2023, the learners practiced permaculture under the supervision of Professor Patrick MAFWILA. They began by observing the terrain and determining the soil type. They then created a small garden by creating flowerbeds and pockets, where they planted a variety of crops such as amaranth, nightshade, and chili pepper. This session demonstrates that it is possible to practice sustainable agriculture even in a small garden, without the need for vast hectares.

In the afternoon, a practical session on agricultural irrigation systems was organized, supervised by Professor Paul MAFUKA. The professor emphasized that before investing in agriculture, it is necessary to consider the various water-related expenses. Indeed, water must be permanently available, as the life of the plant depends on it, as well as the watering sequences. From theory to practice, participants were able to observe the different means of water supply and storage, such as ponds, cisterns, and the river. They adjusted the water collector, used a motor pump, and set up various irrigation systems, such as drip irrigation and the installation of manual and automatic turnstiles.

THE Thursday, July 6, 2023, the session focused on green nanotechnology and sustainable agriculture. The youth learned how to synthesize silver nanoparticles from cloves, grapefruit peels, and Lippia multiflora (Bulukutu or savannah tea). They mixed the powder with water, extracted and prepared a silver nitrate solution, and then centrifuged the solution. These nanoparticles can be used in agriculture to treat plant diseases, including fungal and bacterial infections, and to fertilize the soil and repel pests. The goal is to avoid the use of chemical fertilizers as much as possible.

In the afternoon, the youth immersed themselves in a captivating session on agroforestry. Combining scientific knowledge with direct interaction with the soil, the young learners planted trees under the supervision of Dr. Michel Mbumba. They grasped the importance of investing in agroforestry for sustainable agriculture. Indeed, trees embody life, play an essential role in environmental preservation, and offer an undeniable economic alternative when properly integrated into agricultural systems. During this session, the youth also learned how to record the geographic coordinates of the land using GPS, how to conduct zoning, and how to demarcate the plot intended for planting. It was emphasized to them that zoning is carried out based on the orientation of the sun, from east to west, in order to optimize crop growing conditions.

THE Friday, July 7, 2023, the training on agroforestry continued in the morning. The young people had the opportunity to practice beekeeping with some important notions on the exploitation of hive products, such as the production of honey and beeswax etc. In addition, part of the training was devoted to aquaforestry.

In the afternoon, the final session focused on adult education on entrepreneurship, including strategies and tools for thriving in a dynamic environment. This session was led by Gloire MAVAKALA and Hyggyn MASUAMA. In a constantly evolving world where competition is fierce, learners had the opportunity to acquire a wealth of knowledge and skills. They explored in depth the different strategies needed to formalize their businesses and the key steps in creating a business model adapted to the needs of their target or market. In addition, they were immersed in innovative and pragmatic approaches to carry out concrete actions in the promotion and marketing of agricultural products. This training provided them with tools and methods to identify opportunities, anticipate changes, and demonstrate agility in the face of challenges encountered in the field of entrepreneurship.

The closing ceremony of the practical and ecological training in sustainable agriculture took place on July 7, 2023 at 5 p.m. After speeches by Professor Patrick MEMVANGA, Coordinator of CRITESS and PIRAM, and Eleuthère MVUNDA, national coordinator of PDTIE, thanks were extended to the partners who contributed to the success of this training, as well as to the trainers who provided high-quality teaching throughout the session. Jémima Consolé BOUNKOUTA, representative of the young beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude to the CRITESS, PIRAM, and PDTIE teams for their dynamism, availability, and logistical organization during these 5 intense days of training. The young learners were warmly congratulated.

The training received media coverage from the Numerica TV channel and online media.

Sustainable agriculture is underway. Young people are now equipped to put their knowledge into practice. In the coming months, we expect to see the emergence of crops resulting from their efforts.

To be eligible, you had to:

• Be aged 18 to 35 and a national of a member state of the International Organization of La Francophonie, the training courses being designed as a springboard to green agricultural entrepreneurship
• Reside in one of the countries covered by the call.
• Have completed secondary education.
• Have completed and validated the IFFD's online Environmental Professions OR Environmental Technologies course, with face-to-face training continuing these online courses and allowing for the in-depth study of certain lessons.
• Present an approach to applying the knowledge acquired in the form of setting up a sustainable agricultural activity that generates income.

Young people interested in participating in the 2024 selection process must have completed and validated the CLOM Environmental Professions or Environmental Technologies courses on the Objectif2030 platform. Registration for these online courses is already open, and new sectors of activity will be explored this year.

As a reminder, the Institute of La Francophonie for Sustainable Development (IFDD), a subsidiary body of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), is implementing on an experimental basis from January 2021 to January 2025, the project for the deployment of environmental technologies and innovations for sustainable development and poverty reduction (PDTIE) in Cameroon and the DRC with its national partners (Kongo University in the DRC, Eden Africa and Engineers Without Borders in Cameroon) and funding from the European Union within the framework of the ACP Innovation Fund, one of the components of the Research and Innovation Program of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). In August 2022, 220 young scientists, engineers, technicians and innovators from Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon. from the DRC, Rwanda and Chad aged 18 to 35 had improved their scientific and technological skills in a series of face-to-face training through four training sessions, on the themes: waste management and sustainable energy / agri-food and sustainable agriculture / sustainable construction and energy / phytoremediation, phytopharmacopoeia and agroforestry. From June 26 to 29, 2023, 42 young people from Cameroon, Guinea, Chad and Togo benefited from practical training in sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship in Yaoundé.

ifdd / LIONELLE NGO-SAMNICK