Enhancing Monitoring and Control of the Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) by Citizen Science.

In June 2003, the EU launched Operation “Artemis”, its first military mission outside Europe and independent of NATO, to the Democratic Republic of Congo. While it ultimately received an EU badge, its origin, command and control were French. The objective of Operation “Artemis” was to contribute to the stabilisation of the security conditions in Bunia, capital of Ituri, to improve the humanitarian situation, and to ensure the protection of displaced persons in the refugee camps in Bunia. Its mandate was to provide a short-term interim force for three months until the transition to the reinforced United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC – Mission de l’Organisation des Nations Unies en République Démocratique du Congo; English: United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Although the EU can be said to have passed the first “test” of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) mechanisms for the conduct of an autonomous operation, this test was a limited one. Operational constraints were caused by inadequate strategic lift capabilities and the lack of a strategic reserve.

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Simulation of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Attacks and the Compensative Response of Quality Protein Maize (Zea mays, var. Mudishi-1 and Mudishi-3) in Southwestern DR Congo

OALib ◽

10.4236/oalib.1107217 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 08 (03) ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Jean Pierre Kabongo Tshaibukole ◽

Gertrude Pongi Khonde ◽

André Matondo Phongo ◽

Nlandu Ngoma ◽

Amand Mbuya Kankolongo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Quality Protein Maize ◽

Dr Congo

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Belgian Rule and its Afterlives: Colonialism, Developmentalism, and Mobutism in the Tanganyika District, Southeastern DR-Congo, 1885–1985

International Labor and Working-Class History ◽

10.1017/s0147547917000060 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 92 ◽

pp. 47-68

Author(s):

Reuben Loffman

Keyword(s):

Cold War ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Labor History ◽

Late Nineteenth Century ◽

Dr Congo ◽

Unfree Labor ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

History Of ◽

The Cold War

AbstractThe arrival of Belgian rule in the late nineteenth century initiated significant changes in the labor history of Tanganyika, a province in the southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as well the discursive regimes used to legitimize these transformations. After the colonial conquests, unfree labor was justified by paternalistic rather than mythical discourses. Although unfree labor was less common in the postcolonial period, the state forced farmers to sell crops at low prices and build roads for no remuneration. In the Cold War context, the language and practice of developmentalism mediated the coercive practices of the independent Congolese state (known as Zaïre, 1971–1997). The floundering Zaïrian government expanded its presence in Tanganyika due to its partnership with USAID. USAID's rhetoric and practice was influenced by a “bottom up” approach to agricultural production, but the cuts to its funding in the 1980s meant it struggled to soften Mobutu's coercive administration.

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Soldiers Without an Army? Patronage Networks and Cohesion in the Armed Forces of the DR Congo

Armed Forces & Society ◽

10.1177/0095327x17740096 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 626-646 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Judith Verweijen

Keyword(s):

Democratic Republic ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Social Identification ◽

The Political ◽

Dr Congo ◽

Norm Enforcement ◽

Internal Conflicts ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Service Conditions ◽

Defense Reform

This article analyzes the effects of patronage networks on cohesion in the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It shows that while patronage networks provide support to individual military personnel, they undermine both peer and commander–subordinate bonding. They promote unequal service conditions and statuses and link these to extra-unit and extra-military forms of social identification, which are further reinforced by soldiers’ living and generating revenue among civilians. Furthermore, they impair meritocracy and frustrate the extent to which commanders live up to their subordinates’ expectations. As they fuel internal conflicts, often around revenue generation, and foster bad service conditions and distrust toward the political and military leadership, patronage networks also undermine institutional cohesion. The article concludes that cohesion formation in the FARDC follows different patterns than in well-institutionalized and well-resourced militaries. Given that cohesion impacts combat performance and norm enforcement, these findings are relevant for defense reform efforts and military cooperation.

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Comparative Study of Growth and Yield of NERICA and PNR Rice Lines in Rainfed Ecosystem in the Eastern Interland of Kinshasa, DR Congo

Journal of Experimental Agriculture International ◽

10.9734/jeai/2021/v43i130631 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 51-62

Author(s):

Mitashi Kimvula Jules ◽

Lukula Lukwera Firmin

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Sector ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Height Growth ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

High Yield ◽

Dr Congo ◽

Natural Conditions ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Rainfed Ecosystem ◽

Growing Population

The developing countries are rife with blatant pauperization. The agricultural sector, provider of food and a strong economy, has been in the hands of artisanal farmers for several decades. As a result, the yield is low to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. Thus, in order to help support food security in tropical countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a study was conducted on the comparison of growth and yield of 15 lines / varieties of rice under natural conditions. On the Bateke plateau (Kinshasa, DRC) during season B, from January to June 2004. The number of tillers per plant, the number of tassels per plant, the height and flowering at 50% plant, the weight of a thousand kernels as well as the yield in kg / ha were used as observation variables to evaluate the performance of the plant. Each variety under study for 4 months following a randomized full block device with 3 replicates.From our observations, it emerges that although season B was less productive than season A, a few lines / varieties of rice have shown very distinct performances. Indeed, the varieties NERICA 7, P8.20.B3. 2.1. C1, PNR 1, NERICA 5 showed good height growth while NERICA 7, P10. 100. B1. N1B1, P10. 77. B2. N2. B3, P10. 51. B1. N1. gave a high dry grain yield.Therefore, given their high yield in dry grains, these lines / varieties would be a better substitute for the varieties already in circulation (PNR 1, IRAT 112, and IRAT 341) to increase the country's rice production and thus overcome the problem of low yield experienced by the DRCongo.

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Freshwater diatoms in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a historical overview of the research and publications

PhytoKeys ◽

10.3897/phytokeys.136.47386 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 136 ◽

pp. 107-125

Author(s):

Christine Cocquyt ◽

Edit Lokele Ndjombo ◽

Simon Tutu Tsamemba ◽

Hippolyte Nshimba Seya wa Malale

Keyword(s):

Democratic Republic ◽

Congo Basin ◽

East African ◽

Dr Congo ◽

African Lakes ◽

Freshwater Diatoms ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Almost All ◽

East African Lakes ◽

Local Research

An overview of the diatom research in the DR Congo is given based on literature data starting in 1938 with the work of Zanon and excluding the East African Lakes as these were already discussed in previous papers. For each literature record the diatom genera mentioned are presented as well as all diatom taxa described from the Congo as new. In total, 106 new taxa were documented, of which Nitzschia with 40 taxa is far the most important genus followed by Navicula s.l. and Pinnularia and with 15 and 13 taxa respectively. Particular attention was paid to the local research of students found in unpublished theses at bachelor, licentiate, master and PhD level. Diatom records in these works are almost all restricted to genus level, although in the last decade an attempt to delimit species can be observed. This accompanies the renewed taxonomic interest in the Congo basin during the last decade. Renewed taxonomic interest can also be seen in the genera: the first period being situated during the lumping period, while more recent works follow the current taxonomic classification, for example Navicula s.l. versus Navicula, Cavinula, Craticula, Diadesmis, Geissleria, Humidophila, Luticola, etc.

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Water in maize whorl enhances the control of Spodoptera frugiperda with insecticides

Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical ◽

10.1590/1983-40632020v5059517 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 50 ◽

Author(s):

Adriano Bialozor ◽

Clérison Régis Perini ◽

Jonas André Arnemann ◽

Henrique Pozebon ◽

Adriano Arrué Melo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Early Growth ◽

Growth Stages ◽

Bt Maize ◽

Maize Hybrids ◽

Cropping Seasons ◽

And Control

ABSTRACT The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda is among the main insect-pests on maize crops, due to its damaging potential and control issues related to the larval habit of concealing itself within the plant whorl. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of water in the maize whorl, combined with insecticides and spray sets, on the damage caused by S. frugiperda and the grain yield. The experiments were carried out under field conditions, at two cropping seasons, both with Bt-maize hybrids, in a 2 × 2 × 5 + 1 factorial scheme, testing the presence or absence of water inside the plant whorl, two insecticides and five spray sets (combinations of spray volumes, nozzle types, pressures and spraying speed), plus a control without water and insecticide. The presence of water inside the whorl reduced the damage caused by S. frugiperda during the early growth stages, especially in the plants sprayed with the insecticide chlorantraniliprole. The spray sets with 200 L ha1/20.3 psi or 250 L ha1/33.4 psi provided the highest reductions in the percentage of damaged plants and damage scores, regardless of the insecticide. Therefore, the spraying of insecticides, when there is water from irrigation, dew or rainfall inside the maize whorl, improves the control of S. frugiperda in maize crops, especially in Bt-maize.

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May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

European Heart Journal Supplements ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/suab050 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_B) ◽

pp. B52-B54

Author(s):

Jean-René M’Buyamba-Kabangu ◽

Fortunat K Katamba ◽

Mireille L Ntambwe ◽

Georges N Ngoyi ◽

Trésor M Tshiswaka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Ad Hoc ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

High Rate ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Low Levels ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

And Control

Abstract Hypertension, the foremost cause of global morbi-mortality, is linked with a high mortality from numerous cardiovascular endpoints. The May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign is an annual initiative of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) to collect information on blood pressure (BP) and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults. MMM2019 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was an opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 years that took place in Kinshasa and Mbuji-Mayi after the training of observers to familiarize with the ISH ad hoc methods. We screened 29 857 individuals (mean age: 40 years; 40% female). Hypertension was present in 7624 (25.5%) individuals. Of them, 2520 (33.1%) were aware, 1768 (23.2%) on treatment with 910 (51.5%) controlled BP (systolic BP <140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP <90 mmHg). Of all hypertensives screened, 11.9% had controlled BP. Of all respondents, 16.7% had participated in MMM18 and 60.5% did not have their BP verified during the last year. Fasting, pregnancy, and underweight status were linked with lower BP levels whilst smoking, drinking, antihypertensive medication, previous stroke, diabetes as well as being overweight/obese were associated with higher BP levels. Our results reflect the high rate of hypertension in the DRC with low levels of awareness, treatment, and control. A nationally representative sample is required to establish the nationwide hypertension prevalence.

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Armed Conflict and Child Weight in DR Congo

Advances in Public Health ◽

10.1155/2021/6931096 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Kien Le

Keyword(s):

Armed Conflict ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Dr Congo ◽

Difference In Differences ◽

Child Weight ◽

Percentage Points ◽

Adverse Impacts ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Low Educated ◽

Rural Mothers

This paper investigates the extent to which armed conflict influences the weight of young children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Exploiting the variation across districts in exposure to armed conflict and the within-district variation in the timing of whether the child was exposed to armed conflict due to birth timing within a difference-in-differences framework, we detect adverse impacts of conflict exposure to child weight. Specifically, experiencing armed conflict makes children weigh less for their age and weigh less for their height by 0.20 and 0.24 standard deviations, respectively. Armed conflict also increases the probability of children being underweight and wasted by 4.7 and 2.7 percentage points, respectively. Our heterogeneity analyses reveal that children of disadvantaged backgrounds, i.e., those born to low-educated mothers, poor mothers, and rural mothers, tend to be disproportionately affected. Our study calls for effective measures to mitigate the detrimental repercussions of armed conflict.

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