Location: Mbandaka, Democratic
Republic of Congo
Age: 44 years old
Business: Rice Farm
Loan Amount: $450
Personal and Family Information:
Farmer married with six children
Mr. Bolemba lives in Mbandaka, Congo and would like to use
the loan in hopes of reinforcing his current business. He is
married with 6 children. He is a rice farmer. Congo agriculture is
heavily invested in the rice market as one of its staple food
sources. With the current surge in rice prices worldwide, Mr.
Bolemba will be able to use the loan to better compete with other
farmers and offer the rice at a cheaper price because of our low
interest rate.
Richard owns enough land to employ five people to work the fields.
He is confident enough to expand the current production of his rice
farm. He is looking to use the loan to invest in strains of rice
that germinate faster and towards providing a salary for the five
people he will be hiring to help with the rice plantation.
Ultimately, this loan not only helps Mr. Bolemba and his family but
also the families of the other five workers. This business is a
pillar of his family and we believe that he will undoubtedly want
to pass this down to his own children, giving his farm a great
chance of providing a source of income for many years and
generations ahead.
Richard Bolemba's rice farm
**Updated as of June 7, 2011:
The climate change has caused disruption to the agricultural
calendar. Nonetheless, work has begun, and Richard and his
employees are currently in the process of planting.