DR Congo: Over 100 Households Receive Watering Cans and Hope for a Bountiful Harvest

In the Mueni Mutenge health area, within the Luambo health zone in Kasai-Central, more than 100 vulnerable households have received watering cans. This initiative is part of the project to combat chronic malnutrition, launched by the World Food Programme (WFP) and implemented by World Vision, with financial support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Tangible Support for Family Farming

This distribution aims to strengthen families’ ability to maintain their vegetable gardens, which have become vital sources of nutritious food for children and pregnant women. Already, during the agricultural season A, the Mueni Mutenge community had received seeds of Chinese cabbage, okra, and aubergine. The arrival of these watering cans complements those earlier efforts and eases the daily work of the households.

“Water is essential for our crops, but we lacked the tools to irrigate effectively. With these watering cans, we will be able to better maintain our gardens and ensure good harvests,” said one beneficiary farmer.

Grateful Beneficiaries

For Mrs Kabeya Madeleine, a mother of five, this gesture represents true hope:

“We thank WFP, World Vision, and KOICA for this support. With the seeds we received, we have already begun to diversify our diet. These watering cans will help us improve our yields. This will contribute to the collective fight against malnutrition, which affects our children,” she said.

A Lever Against Chronic Malnutrition

According to WFP data, Kasai-Central is among the provinces most affected by chronic malnutrition in the DRC, impacting nearly 45% of children under five. It is in this context that the project’s integrated approach combines:

• Support with agricultural inputs and equipment,

• Nutritional awareness-raising,

• Community-based accompaniment.

This synergy aims to prevent malnutrition, strengthen family resilience, and improve food self-sufficiency.

A Community Mobilised for the Future

In Mueni Mutenge, the distribution of watering cans is perceived as more than just material assistance. It symbolises a sustainable investment in the health and future of children. Beneficiary households are already committed to maintaining their gardens and sharing good agricultural practices with neighbours, so that positive results extend across the entire community.

“These small tools represent for us a great victory against hunger and poverty,” concluded another household head.