Harnessing Sustainable Agriculture in the Heart of Afrcia – A Case Study of climate mitigating small scale Farmers In the DRC

     by Eunicia Lutete updated on January 7, 2024       

In the verdant heart of Africa, amidst the lush expanse of the Republic Democratic of the Congo (DRC), a remarkable story of resilience and innovation is unfolding. This sprawling nation, covering a vast 2,345,410 square kilometers, is not only renowned for its abundant biodiversity but also for the tenacity of its people, especially its small-scale farmers. In a land where 80 million hectares of arable land and 4 millions hectares of irrigable land beckon, a silent revolution is underway, one that holds the key to mitigating climate change while uplifting millions from poverty.    

The DRC, often referred to as the “lung of Africa,” boasts 135 million hectares of tropical forests, covering 52% of its territory. This natural treasure trove has bestowed the country with a unique opportunity: to combat climate change by reducing overall temperatures. Despite these vast resources, the majority of the DRC’s rural population lives under the shadow of poverty, with more than 50% relying on agriculture and livestock for sustenance.    

DRC became the solution country to the world due to its tropical forests but also because of small scale farmers that are using sustainable practices to exploit the soil. Small-scale farmers are the unsung heroes of the DRC’s agricultural landscape; they play a pivotal role in mitigating climate change. These resilient individuals, often surviving on less than a dollar a day, demonstrate an unparalleled commitment to sustainable farming practices. Cultivating the land with traditional methods, they eschew the carbon footprints left by modern machinery, opting instead for age-old wisdom passed down from one generation to the next which created an ecosystem of farmers that are boosting the economic growth.   

Amidst the challenges, a new breed of farmers is emerging: the agripreneurs. These visionary individuals are not just tilling the land ; they are sowing the seeds of innovation and progress. By harnessing sustainable agricultural practices, they are not only ensuring their survival but also contributing significantly to the country’s economic growth. According to the ANAPI 2022 report, the agriculture sector adds 20.3% to the DRC’s GDP, with an annual growth rate of 2%.   

 

 

 

 

CASE STUDIES :   

In the vast and fertile landscapes of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), small-scale farmers play a crucial role in shaping the agricultural narrative of the nation. These farmers, despite often facing economic challenges, are inadvertently becoming climate warriors through their traditional and sustainable farming practices.      

In this large and abundant land, many small-scale farmers from around the country have developed their own sustainable methods to exploit the soil as a way of survival and to provide for their families.


Practices from around the provinces as the level of fertility changes  from one area to another, have been mentioned below :    


In the Equateur province, small-scale farmers have embraced agroforestry as a means of sustainable land use. By intercropping trees with traditional crops, farmers not only secure their livelihoods but also contribute to carbon sequestration. This practice not only reduces deforestation but also enhances biodiversity and soil fertility.  The trees provide shade as the sun strikes harder at the Equator  than in the rest of the country. Agroforestry is one way to provide both shelter and also to increase forest landscape.   

In the Tshopo province, small-scale farmers employ traditional crop rotation methods. This age-old technique involves changing the type of crops planted in a specific area each season. This not only maintains soil fertility but also prevents soil erosion. By eschewing monoculture, these farmers inadvertently reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, thus mitigating environmental degradation.   

Moreover, in rural areas such as Nord-Kivu, where water scarcity is a concern, small-scale farmers have implemented rainwater harvesting systems. They collect and store rainwater during the wet season in buckets placed in strategic places to fill it up with rain for use during dry periods where water is hard to find. This not only ensures water availability for their crops but also reduces reliance on rivers and streams, contributing to the preservation of local ecosystems.   

Many small-scale farmers across various provinces leverage indigenous agro ecological knowledge passed down through generations to ensure survival of the community. They understand the importance of preserving local seed varieties that are resilient to specific climatic conditions. By avoiding dependence on genetically modified seeds, these farmers inadvertently contribute to biodiversity conservation.

 

   

 

 

Despite these commendable efforts to mitigate climate change, small-scale farmers in the DRC face numerous challenges, including limited access to modern farming technologies, financial constraints, and insufficient government support. However, there is a growing realization of the need to amplify these sustainable practices and provide the necessary support to the people that pollute less but are facing big consequences from the people on top of the ladder. Congolese small-scale farmers, through their traditional and sustainable farming practices, are inadvertently becoming frontline warriors against climate change. Recognizing, promoting, and supporting these practices can not only enhance food security and economic resilience for these farmers but also contribute significantly to the global fight against climate change.   

The success of these initiatives underscores the urgent need for investment in sustainable agriculture. With support from the Government and educating the artisanal farmer in enhanced knowledge of organic farming, the fertile land of DRC can be used to produce healthy organic food not just for local consumption but also for export. Organic foods fetch higher prices than commercially grown and chemically fertilized food produce. This will not only alleviate poverty, but also encourage the people to realize the potential of the land. Modern farming methods and machinery can help DRC become a sustainable agroeconomy. The mighty Congo River and its plentiful supply of freshwater is an added blessing for agriculture in DRC.   

The DRC’s artisanal farmers, with their deep-rooted knowledge and innovative spirit, stand as beacons of hope. To truly harness the potential of this agricultural revolution, governmental support, private investment, and international collaboration are imperative.   

As the world grapples with the escalating challenges of climate change, the small-scale farmers of the DRC offer a beacon of hope. Their practices, deeply rooted in tradition yet adaptable to the modern world, highlights the path forward. By investing in these climate-mitigating, sustainable farming practices, the DRC can not only combat climate change but also uplift millions from poverty.   

  

Africa, the cradle of humanity, a land that stirs the soul with its mystic allure. My soul chose to be born in a land where golden savannahs stretch far and wide. A land where one can witness the plains come alive with the rhythmic footsteps of herds embarking on their breath-taking migration in a timeless display of resilience and unity. A country that holds beauty, that enchants the senses and ignites wonder.

My land, my motherland Kenya. Born into a Kenyan family of Asian descent, a family that has lived and breathed Kenya and Africa for previous 5 generations, I can only identify as a Kenyan, a proud 6th generation African. Brought up in a family where ‘Being Human’ was the main principal belief. We have been raised with values that don’t differ greatly from those of the thousands of tribes that make up Africa – roots, heritage, family, faith, morals, principles and more.

Many years ago, I stood on stage at a speech writing contest in High School, where I described the strategy behind Muhamad Ali’s glorious win where he “floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee” against George Foreman, in the fight forever known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ Years later, never even in my wildest imagination, did I imagine I would be living in the very ‘jungle’ itself, and working in the world of strategic storytelling and encouraging the amplification of Congolese voices and narratives far and wide across the globe from the heart of Africa.

Congo or as it was then called Zaire, a land that was stamped in the memory of the World as the place where Ali fought Foreman and caused a mighty Rumble in the boxing world. A battle that was immortalised in the song ‘In Zaire’ sung by Johnny Wakelin. Congo was a land everyone wanted to know about.

A land that is endowed with all the riches known to mankind. A blessed land, with a rich cultural heritage and a teeming, deserving population. A land sadly destroyed by its colonial past. Which, since its independence, is slowly trying to attain its rightful place in the World. It is here that I arrived five years back.

As I look back on my first five years of living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been moments of floating and very often, little stings. I moved to Kinshasa for love. In the beginning, I can honestly admit, it was not love for the city or the country or the people – I didn’t know enough about this 

ginormous country and the 100+ million people that fill its borders – it was personal love. But five years later, I never thought I could love a country and its people as though they were mine. That love comes from the heart that feels the mystic rhythm of the African land, and I couldn’t be prouder to call it home.

You can never shake the ancient dust of Africa off your boots – no matter how far and wide you travel.

Having lived in London for thirteen years followed by a few years in the Middle East, returning to Africa was natural. 

The love for Africa always remains in the soul. Living in the heart and soul of Central Africa, has been an adventure.

The narratives that have filled Western Media have sung a different song for many years, call it geo-politics, strategic positioning, economic control, all things aside, the story of the Congo has never really been told loudly by the Congolese themselves. From the outside looking in, the perceptions are dotted and plagued with negativity, but on the ground, the beating hearts of the Congolese are rumbling a little louder day by day towards progress, and it’s in these slivers of hope, that the true stories are revealed.

The stories that spotlight the young entrepreneur battling to build a viable business, young students carving out their careers currently into untapped and underdeveloped industries, the non-existent middle class that should build the private sector and contribute to its growth and the country’s economy, international investors building projects that create jobs and wealth for the locals as much as it does for the financial interest in the Congo. We can’t talk about changing the narrative of a country when we don’t discuss the positive changes that education, infrastructure developments, economic policies, universal health care, food self sufficiency etc can contribute towards developing Congo.

In Africa, a transformative era is on the horizon as the continent sets its sights on change and development like never before, and country examples like Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya are a testament to these positive changes. A combined drive by the Africans to build an Africa by Africans for a future developed Africa. A daunting task as a fellow African who first arrived in Kinshasa for a two-week trip which quickly extended from month to month and snowballed into creating a business in the field of strategic advisory and communications. It was created around the simple premise – the African narrative needs to be written by the Africans, and the Congolese needed a platform for their voices to be heard as far and wide across the globe.

At the heart of Africa, the center of its soul, the Congolese beats are picking up. Business is quietly picking up, post the first peaceful democratic elections. As the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi embarks on his second mandate, the world waits with bated breath for the promised change and greater development, the impact of which can be felt across the entire population. Whether its infrastructure, governance reform, education, better health, access to basic needs – there are plenty of conversations to be had. Storytelling, an essential part of Congolese culture, an oral tradition that is filled with narratives, stories, and songs, need to be told from the perceptions and opinions of the Congolese.

In the past, and especially in 2023 the power and bias of the international media came to the forefront.

Geopolitics and powerful Media Houses controlled and amplified the narrative that in their perception was important. It’s only natural to question the visibility of certain global issues over another. This raises the question about the impact of our voices when catastrophes and issues affecting an African country are narrated differently. Whether it’s election, unrest or other catastrophes affecting an African country, sometimes the western media does not consider it newsworthy because they do not have an in-depth understanding and information of the issues and disasters that affects this Continent.

There are a lot of positive changes happening as well, and these news worthy developments need to be made a part of the Global narrative. Positive or negative these conversations need to be had openly and who better than the Africans to be at the forefront of this narrative. The true voices of the Congolese need to be heard from their heart and soul and from their perspective. That’s when the true picture of the reality of their lives, struggles and aspirations emerges.

There is a need for a platform where the Congolese voices and the African voices can be heard, where views can be freely given not as a negative but as a positive approach to help bring the DRC to take its rightful place, not just in Africa but also in the World. Is it not our experiences from around the world when put together with like minded individuals – where greatness begins? Where stories and narratives become the basis for legacies.

DRConversations is the platform created as a gift for all the voices that need to be heard, for all the emotions that need to be expressed and to bring forth the dreams and aspirations of a nation on the cusp of development. Join this journey by sharing openly your knowledge and experience to make DRC a happy, positive and progressive Nation.

It’s time for another rumble in the jungle – Welcome to the conversations from the Congo.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             KS