10 cocoa seedlings were distributed by PHC-Yaligimba to the communities of Bokombe and Yaligimba in the province of Mongala. The distribution activity, which took place on April 550 in Bokombe and April 13 in Yaligimba, is part of the community cocoa agroforestry project launched by PHC at the Yaligimba site with the objective of promoting perennial crops and create jobs in the communities.
The project had started on June 26, 2021 with the preparation of two cocoa seed nurseries and entered a new phase of development in April with the distribution of cocoa seedlings to the communities of Bokombe and Yaligimba for cultivation. In addition to this activity, PHC organized practical trainings on seedling transplantation with all the beneficiary communities who learned how to plant the seedlings in the final fields where they now grow.
In line with PHC's commitment to building local capacity, the project was implemented in partnership with the agricultural cooperative called Société Coopérative Agricole Bomoko (SCAB), set up in 2021 by PHC. The mission of SCAB is twofold: to help small farmers to structure themselves and to support them in their economic management. SCAB's projects include the production of cocoa, coffee, palm bunches, quality non-timber forest products and many other social and economic activities, as well as a sustainable development program for communities.
Regarding the cocoa plantation activity, Jean-Robert Ngoy, resident of the village of Yamaya near the Yaligimba site, and member of the SCAB cooperative expressed his satisfaction and thanked PHC for its support and contribution to the development of communities through cooperative activities. Mr. Ngoy and the other members of the cooperative made a promise to maintain the cocoa plantations and expressed the wish that the company would continue to support the cooperative in the production of other crops other than cocoa.
The distribution of cocoa seedlings is part of the Community Development Program (CDP) of PHC, set up in 2021 to improve the standard of living of the populations surrounding its concessions through activities that promote agricultural production in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals, including the promotion of sustained, shared and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
The PDC intervenes on several axes including the promotion of perennial crops, food crops, market gardening and livestock.