BBEST Project train Kinshasa vegetable farmers on organic fertilizer production

Vegetable farmers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are building their capacity in the production of organic fertilizer under the IITA BSF for Bio Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability (IITA-BBEST) Project, in partnership with the National Institute for Agronomic Study and Research (INERA). A practical training workshop for 50 people, including 24 men and 26 women was organized on 6 January 2025, at the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN) to equip these agripreneurs with knowledge on the production of organic fertilizer from the Black Soldier Fly residue (frass). This training is part of implementing the (BSF for Bio Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability) IITA-BBEST Project, the activities funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

This workshop was structured in two parts. The first part focused on rearing the black soldier fly (BSF) with a general overview of its origin and some fundamental characteristics of the species that make it a good candidate for rearing without risk for humans and animals. These characteristics are the expansion of the species throughout the intertropical zone despite its American origin, its wealth in proteins and lipids, making it an extremely interesting alternative source of feed for different livestock sectors (chickens, fish, and pigs), and its harmlessness to humans (i.e., does not bite).

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