Traditional Chief Reaping Dollar Harvests in Cabinda, Angola

Simão Congo is a traditional leader in the village of Liambo, near Cabinda City, where he has been a model farmer for 20 years, growing agricultural produce to sell at local markets and to feed his 14 children. Congo is 58 years old and a founder of the AAC (Cabinda Farmers’ Association). Congo is changing his agricultural methods and planting calendar to respond to market demand, moving away from subsistence to high-value crops. His new products include all-season tomatoes, crisp green peppers and cucumbers used in restaurant salad bars and households of Cabinda City.

Congo’s success has been fueled by his participation in the Cabinda Agribusiness Development Alliance (CADA) project, which began in 2004 with funding from the Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (CABGOC)—a consortium of oil companies including Chevron—and USAID/Angola. CADA is being implemented by ACDI/VOCA in a five-year initial phase to strengthen the capacity of local farmer organizations to meet the fruit and vegetable requirements of CABGOC and regional markets.

“I didn’t believe that this project would help us in the beginning. I have lived here all of my life and have seen many projects come and go, but the CADA project has brought new knowledge and a regular, monthly income for my family. Now I am not growing just cassava as before, but with access to new types of seeds and an important new market at the CABGOC camp in Malongo, I am growing valuable Nobili green peppers, Mongal tomatoes, and fresh cucumbers all year round. My farm income has increased, since these crops sell for up to $3 per kilogram,” said Congo, a respected local leader in Cabinda. From June 2004 to October 2005, Congo made weekly produce deliveries totaling 6.5 tons of various crops, with a value of $6,731.

“I would like to see the markets expanded so that more of our associated farmers can improve their production levels while increasing their income,” Congo said. In addition to the new markets provided through the CADA project, 470 farmers and independent produce suppliers receive weekly field-based technical assistance and training in business planning to improve their profit margins. The project also provides access to cold storage facilities and financial services that allow farmers to take out short-term loans of up to $1,000 for the purchase of agriculture inputs such as seed, fertilizers and irrigation equipment.