The final of the 3ᵉ edition of the tractor race took place on December 8, 2024 at the Kasa-Vubu stadium in Tshela, Central Kongo, drawing attention to the potential of agriculture in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Organized by Groupe Blattner Elwyn Agri (GBE), the event showcased the skills of agricultural drivers, with notable participation from women.
Jolie Lompela Boyoo, representing Compagnie des Plantations de Ndeke, won the women’s category with an impressive time of 3 minutes 38 seconds.
In response, she stressed the importance of this competition as a symbol of women’s growing involvement in the agricultural sector.
“This race is a showcase of our ability to contribute to agricultural development in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” she declared.
On the men’s side, Nubea Wasido, from the Société de Cultures de Binga, triumphed with a record time of 2 minutes 31 seconds. His success, which he attributes to his years of experience as a driver, testifies to the professional excellence that GBE Agri seeks to promote among agricultural drivers.
Launched in 2022 under the aegis of Cédric Thaunay, PCA of GBE Agri, the tractor race aims to encourage professional excellence and promote the central role of agriculture in the country’s economic development.
Constant Kouadio, Managing Director of the Société des Cultures et Industries Agricoles au Mayumbe (SCAM), noted that the competition stimulates competitiveness among drivers while encouraging female participation in a sector traditionally dominated by men.
The event also served as a platform to promote various GBE agricultural projects. The group plans to increase agricultural production thanks to a new factory recently inaugurated in Tshela, and to encourage the creation of food businesses. This is part of a wider vision to strengthen food self-sufficiency and stimulate the local economy.
The deputy head of the Gender, Family and Children office welcomed the initiative, saying that seeing women excel at driving tractors was a real honor.
This competition demonstrates that SCAM plays a crucial role in empowering women by enabling them to assert their skills in a field previously reserved for men.
With the support of a wide range of sponsors
such as DRC (Développement Rural au Congo), PALMELIT, and CASE, the tractor race is fast becoming a not-to-be-missed event.
In addition to promoting competition, it also highlights GBE’s social contributions, notably through the construction of health centers and schools.
GBE Agri, which has seven agricultural divisions in several of the country’s provinces, continues to assert its vision: to develop agriculture in the DRC through innovation and the development of human resources.
The race is thus positioned as a strategic tool for raising awareness and motivating farmers to become more involved in the country’s agricultural development.
The tractor race was a real feast for participants and spectators alike. All participants received gifts donated by the sponsors, reinforcing the sen
se of belonging to a community committed to agricultural development.
After its first two editions in Binga and Basankusu, this event continues to evolve and inspire Congolese farmers.
The tractor race is not just a competition; it represents a significant step towards empowering women and strengthening the agricultural sector in the DRC.
Thanks to these initiatives, the country can hope for a more prosperous future where agriculture plays a key role in its economic development.
Mitterrand MASAMUNA