DR Congo – DR Congo – Join For Water recently started its activities around Idiofa, a town in Kwilu province 700 km from Kinshasa. Our partner here is Faja Lobi, an NGO that has already replanted 6,000 hectares of forest in a decade with the cooperation of more than 1,000 inhabitants of the area. Join For Water is concentrating in Idiofa in a first phase on water infrastructure for horticulture.
Idiofa en Faja Lobi, what proceeded
The slashing and burning of forests and vegetation to obtain new farmland is a well-known agricultural practice. Soil erosion and loss of original vegetation are the result. After a few years, the soils are exhausted and everything starts all over again, a bit further. In this way, 250,000 ha have already been deforested in the Idiofa region. The NGO Faja Lobi convinces local communities of the ecological and economic benefits of reforestation. Faja Lobi is also looking ahead and wants to contribute to building and restoring civil society through cultural, educational, economic and health programmes.
Water resources: Join For Water at the wheel
Water infrastructure for horticulture is a vital link in Faja Lobi’s overall plan: Join For Water started building water infrastructure in 2024. It included a water tower, solar panels and a pump . Further planning also includes the construction of drinking water infrastructure for the city itself.
From the river, pipes bring the water to a well. From there, the water leaves via an electric pump powered by solar panels to a water tower. The water tower feeds 2 taps where farmers tap water for their plots using a garden hose or large watering cans.
This efficient irrigation system allows horticulturists to better control water use, preventing excess water from simply washing away. That run-off impoverishes farmland and erodes the soil.
And there are additional benefits for families and the community: With a better harvest, food production becomes more sustainable and a source of income is added, when people can sell their vegetables at the market.
More than just irrigation
Thus, proper irrigation increases the food security, health and economic opportunities of local people. It also makes them more resilient to the effects of climate change.
In this way, water infrastructure for horticulture is part of an integrated solution to the many environmental, climatic and social challenges facing the region.
Pictures below : (c) Faja Lobi, Zacky Madilo
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