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NAIROBI, 27 October (IRIN) - Tens of thousands of conflict-affected people in the Republic of Congo's Pool Region - a stronghold of rebels known as the Ninjas - have benefited from seed distribution and seed fairs organised by the NGO Caritas Congo in September and October.
In a statement issued on Wednesday from the capital, Brazzaville, Caritas said it, with its partners, had introduced a system known as the "Seed and Voucher Fair" approach to help the residents of Pool to restart agricultural activities.
The region had been affected by years of civil war that culminated in the signing of a peace agreement, on 17 March 2003, between the government and the Rev Frédéric Bitsangou, alias Pasteur Ntoumi, the leader of the Ninjas.
"The Seed Voucher and Fair approach was developed to enhance food security in rural areas, especially in post-conflict settings, by making local and commercial seeds available for purchase through a voucher system," Caritas said.
During September and October, Caritas and its local partner, Caritas Kinkala, with support from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Secours Catholique (Caritas France), conducted agricultural recovery efforts, helping 4,712 conflict-affected households (18,971 people) in the Pool region.
The aid comprised four seed fairs and two seed distributions. Caritas said through the Seed Voucher and Fair approach, the residents were able to select from a variety of agricultural inputs - seeds and tools - to assist them in restarting their agricultural activities.
It said that through the participation of local and regional sellers during the seed fairs, some US $61,333 was injected into the local economy.
Caritas said the decision to use the seed fairs in the country was based on results of a detailed evaluation it carried out, together with CRS and Secours Catholique, of the humanitarian situation in the Pool. They conducted a comprehensive seed security assessment in August.
After assessing the impact of the conflict on agricultural production and seed stocks, Caritas selected 2,847 beneficiaries in 29 villages along the Mbandza Ndounga and Kinkala axes of the southern Pool, it said. The beneficiaries received vouchers that were used to "purchase" 14.7 tonnes of seed and 6,741 tools. Some 187 sellers from the Pool, Brazzaville and Bouenza participated in the fairs.
"The seed fairs also contributed to peace-building in the region, as many sellers came from areas outside of the Pool," Caritas said. "Most initially refused to enter into the Pool due to security concerns. But once [the] fairs were underway and economic incentives had induced a small number to participate, they admitted their fears had been unfounded."
Caritas project coordinator Bidié Banzouzi Lié said: "This drew out larger numbers, and many expressed an interest in recreating commercial linkages to the Pool that existed prior to the conflict."
Caritas carried out the seed distributions near Mbanza Dounga and at Mayama, in which 1,865 families each received 9 kg of improved seed - 7 kg of groundnuts and 2 kg of corn.
According to Caritas, areas of the Pool Department west of Brazzaville suffered considerably during the 2002-2003 conflict between government forces and the Ninjas. It said an estimated 99.8 percent of the population in these areas was displaced at some point during the conflict.
"Returning inhabitants have had to face communities devastated by widespread destruction of homes, fields, schools, health centres, and other public infrastructures," Caritas said. "Previously a breadbasket for much of the southern Republic of Congo, the Pool now faces difficulties meeting its own food needs."
The Caritas programme coordinator for ROC, Placide Milongo, said: "Though the seed fairs and distributions were successful and are an important first step in revitalising agricultural activity in the Pool Region, there are still tremendous humanitarian needs in the Pool.
"The humanitarian crisis in the Pool has been largely forgotten," he said.
Caritas Congo said it was still seeking nearly $1 million in funding for additional agricultural, road rehabilitation, livelihood recovery, and humanitarian activities to be implemented during 2005-2006.
[ENDS]
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