The gala evening organized by the Bilanga ya Betu cooperative took place at the Hôtel Sultani in the city center during the second edition of the Agricultural Market in the Democratic Republic of Congo, known as MAGRIC.

The event brought together key figures from the agricultural, livestock, fisheries, education, and other sectors. Highlights of the evening included presentations of studies conducted by Target SARL in collaboration with the Bilanga ya Betu cooperative and a prize-giving ceremony named ‘Porteur ou Porteuse des Fruits’. Serge Mumbu, the General Manager of Target, introduced two studies. The first study focused on agricultural product trends, while the second one delved into the consumption habits of the people of Kinshasa.



The initial study covers the eight main regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and is based on a sample of 1,540 people who were interviewed by telephone (CATI). It offers a comprehensive view of the agri-food sector, analyzing agricultural production, imports, products consumed at the household level, and preferences between local and imported products.

According to Target's analysis, vegetables are the most consumed food, accounting for 86% of consumption, followed by fish and seafood (70%), cereals and yoghurt (66%), and fruit (60%). Local products are more popular than imported ones, with 86% and 4% respectively. The Equateur region (98%) and Kongo Central region (91%) are the most favorable towards local products.



The second study was conducted on a small scale, targeting just four of the 24 municipalities of Kinshasa. The market researcher explained that only 19% of those surveyed have a vegetable garden and grow crops in their household. It was mainly women who tended these gardens (44%), and they primarily grew vegetables. In the four municipalities where the survey was conducted, Kintambo came first with 23%, followed by Bandalungwa (20%) and Lingwala (19%). Kasavubu came last with a score of 12%.

The studies presented led to conclusions that did not evoke indifference among many participants. Numerous questions and comments were raised, all of which were promptly addressed. The second part of the evening was highlighted by the presentation of awards to individuals who have excelled in promoting agriculture in various ways. The prestigious prize awarded to these outstanding individuals is called the "Porteur et Porteuse des Fruits."



Each of these players thanked the Bilanga ya Betu cooperative with immense pride for the honour bestowed on them, which recognized their various actions in several sectors. A digital platform has been created to maintain virtual continuity in the agricultural market. It will be supplied with data from various players in the cooperative. The findings of these two studies will also be accessible on this platform.

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