Emergency Response to the Outbreak of the Cassava Mosaic Disease
Start date: 9/01 - Completion date: 9/06

All rapid multiplication fields were deployed on community fields selected by the community members themselves in the Bas Congo and Bandundu provinces where disease-free planting material is being produced. Fields in Nzundu with Sadisa variety and in Kiyaka with RAV variety in the Bas Congo and Bandundu provinces, respectively, are representative of SECID's rapid multiplication fields in DRC. In October 2003, the program expanded its activities in communities in Bokuma in the Equateur province.

The project uses cassava planting materials that were developed by the National
Agriculture Research Institution (Institut National d'Etude et de Recherche Agronomique - INERA) in the late '80s and early '90s under an earlier USAID funded RAV (Recherche Appliquée et Vulgarisation) project. In addition to the four initial varieties, in each of the provinces one cassava variety developed specifically for that province and particularly
well adapted to local conditions was also introduced during the second planting season.
In December 2003, a total of 11 new cassava varieties, fully resistant to the mosaic
disease, were released by IITA to SECID for rapid multiplication and distribution.
SECID has provided its farm communities with these new varieties.

SECID's activities are in farmer or community fields. The program has successfully
mobilized communities to take ownership of the project's achievements. Unlike similar
programs supported by other donors, participating farmers own the entirety of the cuttings
that they produce. Farmers have built self-confidence and now have a clear and much better understanding of the importance of generating and preserving the quality of planting material. Farmers now know that a good quality cutting has value. Communities are looking forward to expanding their activities beyond cassava into other important commodities such as maize, peanuts, beans and plantain, etc., to name only a few possibilities. Farmers were not accustomed to working together. The project has shown them the value and benefits of teamwork and partnership. Farmers have sold significant amounts of cuttings outside the project. Since the planting material was produced on community land, the community
managed the proceeds.

One community in the Bandundu province decided to utilize a major portion of the proceeds towards building a healthcare center (dispensaire). They were able to approach other donors (Coopération Technique Belge - CTB) to leverage their own $3,000 contribution towards the "dispensaire" into a CTB contribution for the remaining needed material, equipment and supplies. Since they contributed their own monies, the Luwala villagers are now proud
owners of a brand new $18,000 or so healthcare center. Building on that experience they
are now using the proceeds of further sales to build a drying facility for which IITA has
agreed to provide supplemental funding as part of the cassava transformation
component of this program.

Similarly, project partners who are implementing activities in the field are building on the project success to identify additional funding from outside sources to expand activities
beyond the normal project expansion radius. As such, for example, CRAFOD in Kimpese
is in the process of finalizing funding agreements with German Church organizations and
the CEC in Luozi has successfully approached Swedish Church groups to expand activities
in many surrounding sectors in the Bas Congo province.

SECID activities in the DRC have brought communities together and significantly improved livelihood among their members. It is always rewarding to visit communities such as the
one in Ebiala Kandolo in the Bandundu province, as it is an opportunity for the villagers
and the project staff to meet for an open and candid discussion in a joyful atmosphere,
of project activities, results, and future plans.