Kinshasa, July 22nd, 2025 (CPA).- ‘Agriculture cannot be transformed with a magic wand, but must be built methodically,’ said Grégoire Mutshail Mutomb, Minister of State in charge of Agriculture and Food Security, at the workshop launching the FAO’s ‘Hand in Hand’ initiative on Tuesday in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). ‘Agriculture cannot be transformed with a magic wand. It is built step by step, methodically, through learning, rigour and, above all, with solid and effective partnerships,’ he emphasized. According to Minister Mutshail, the ‘Hand in Hand’ initiative is based on an innovative approach that places the governments of FAO member countries at the heart of the process, while offering concrete tools for planning, thanks to advanced geospatial technologies. These tools, he said, make it possible to accurately identify areas with high untapped potential, where poverty and hunger are most pressing concerns. « We are not entering into the “Hand in Hand” initiative blindly. We have taken the time to carefully evaluate the initiative and have engaged in in-depth discussions with FAO technical teams, » he said. Agricultural transformation, Mr Musthail stressed, will not happen through mere rhetoric. It requires the right tools, reliable data, massive investment and, above all, a shared vision and determination. ‘It is with this in mind that the DRC, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has officially joined the FAO’s Hand in Hand initiative, which has already mobilized more than $10 billion in more than 60 countries around the world,’ he said. For Minister Grégoire Mutshail, this day is a key moment in the country’s history, as it demonstrates the DRC government’s determination to relentlessly pursue the transformation of the country’s agricultural sector.
Areas of intervention and expectations
For Minister Mutshail, the areas of intervention are many and varied, including the development of value chains for priority products; the establishment of agro-industries; sustainable water management; the introduction of digital services and precision agriculture; the reduction of food losses; and the fight against the effects of climate change. According to Minister Mutshail, the expectations of the ‘Hand in Hand’ initiative revolve around a shared understanding of the initiative and its potential for the DRC; better ownership and adoption of the initiative’s operational coordination mechanism, which will be led by the government; and a collective commitment to work together to build a territorial agricultural investment plan with clear and precise steps.
DRC’s accession to the Initiative welcomed
The Minister in charge of Agriculture welcomed the DRC’s accession to the FAO’s ‘Hand in Hand’ Initiative after fulfilling its obligations, including its contribution. Speaking at a press briefing, the Minister of Agriculture revealed that Congo-Kinshasa has rejoined the ranks of organizations by fulfilling its obligations within IFAD and WFP. CPA/