ICRC launches major seed support programme in Maniema

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has launched a soya-seed production programme in cooperation with local farming associations in the towns of Kailo, Kalima, Punia and Kindu in Maniema Province of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In addition, some vegetable seed has been distributed in Kailo and rice seed in Kalima. In a statement issued on Wednesday, ICRC said that food-producing commodities were in increasingly short supply in the troubled eastern province, where towns are cut off from each other and population movements are frequent due to insecurity. ICRC said it was distributing high-quality seeds in the region to enable people to return to growing their own food. ICRC representative Anna Schaff told IRIN that soya was chosen because of its nutritional value in proteins. "It's the only agricultural seed that can easily replace meat, eggs or milk in the everyday diet," she said. "People in this area are traditionally used to cultivating rice or manioc. The soya will help to balance their diet." ICRC provided training in cultivation methods and the production of high-quality seeds for 186 members of the associations, who will, in turn, multiply the seed and make it available to the rest of the population. Population figures for the targeted areas vary, as people are beginning to return to their homes after having fled from war, sometimes several years ago. According to ICRC, Kailo has approximately 10,000 inhabitants; Kalima about 30,000; Punia 20,000; and Kindu 180,000. Asked about the general food security situation in Maniema, Schaff said that while it was "not alarming", food needs remained "huge" all over the DRC. "The aim of this programme is basically to give people back their independence in regard to their food security," she said. "Cultivation is now possible again as the security situation slowly improves."