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Inflation is a global phenomenon which spares no country, and which hits the poorest the hardest. In Congo-Brazzaville, to cope with the inflation of fertilizer prices, Congolese fish farmers use the water from farms rich in NPK, an organic fertilizer. The objective is to contribute to the development of market gardening. Unfortunately, few market gardeners around Brazzaville use it because they are unaware of its existence.
In the Mafouta district in the eighth arrondissement, south of Brazzaville, the Food and Breeding Fish Cooperative (Copape) has been experimenting with above-ground fish farming for three years. It produces tilapia and catfish fingerlings. Once mature, these species are primarily intended for consumption. They are also an invaluable contribution to the production of natural fertilizers, according to Stanislas Hamed Nakavoua, fish farming specialist: ” This is because the waters of fish farms are rich in the NPK trilogy. You get from fish defections and urine ammonia, nitrogen and phosphate which are nutrients for plant production ».
President of the cooperative, Guy-Florent Banimba demonstrates how water from fish farms can be combined with market gardening: “ It’s that the waters soiled by the fishes: the defections of the fishes, their undigested food, which decomposes in this water which becomes soiled at the end, is very rich in three nutrients which promote the growth of a plant. This water, once irrigated in the market gardening, provides these three elements. So, by using this water, you will no longer need chemical fertilizers “, he supports. In the aisles of the Cooperative’s masonry bins; bins full of fish, grow cucumbers, eggplants or peppers, watered by these waters from the farms.
La Copape is the first and only farm to practice above-ground fish farming in Brazzaville and its surroundings. These techniques aim both to protect the environment and to limit fertilizer imports. Guy-Florent Banimba regrets the fact that local market gardeners are unaware of the very existence of natural NPK: ” For us, this is an approach that has not yet been developed. It is not known yet. Perhaps in the future, as we move forward, there will be awareness campaigns to be able to challenge the youth or the Congolese population, so that they have a look at this practice. With dirty fish water, you have your guaranteed NPK “, he analyzes.
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To the north of Brazzaville, the vegetable belt of Talangaï has already lost more than three quarters of its surface area, due to anarchic occupations and development works. Sylvain Ndangui comes to work there almost every day. To date, no one has come to offer him natural NPK to fertilize the areas he operates: ” I even wonder where it is produced. I would take it if it was offered to me because it is natural. Because we want to protect nature and those around us first. So, if we have this kind of product, it will suit us and consumers will be put out of danger. »
Market gardener, Aurélie Louzolo is 54 years old. She uses another type of fertilizer that is very popular with producers: cassava leaf manure that she buys from suppliers: “ When I take manure at 2000 FCFA for a plank, I can use it three times. I can plant vegetables at first. I do the same thing two more times in a row. You see this board where the vegetables grow… At harvest, I can sell and collect at least 12,000 FCFA “, she explains.
Organic fertilizers developed by fish farmers and farmers provide a solution to the problems facing the country. Fertilizers cheaper than those imported from abroad, and moreover, manufactured locally. To develop its use, however, these producers would need to benefit from better visibility and perhaps also incentives from the Congolese government authorities.