27 May New Project Partnership in South Kivu!
PRWOP and SKCDP (South Kivu Community Development Project) together for sustainable agriculture
Key Facts
- Despite agriculture being the main economic activity in DRC, contributing 19% to the GDP, the country is heavily reliant on food imports.[World Bank Report https://www.privacyshield.gov/article?id=Congo-Democratic-Republic-Agricultural-Services-AGS
- As little as 30% of domestic needs are met internally due to inadequate food production, resulting in nutritional and economic inequities and hardship. [ https://www.wfp.org/countries/congo
- Poor agricultural practices contribute to the degradation of the local environment, which also impact local conservation efforts to preserve habitat and wildlife. [IUCN World Heritage Outlook: Kahuzi-Biéga National Park – 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/es/explore-sites/wdpaid/4328 ]
What We Are Doing
In July 2024, PRWOP, Renew SCIO and SKCDP (South Kivu Community Development Project), with Michel Chikwanine, Project Director, will be launching a new pilot project with the shared goal of developing sustainable community led agriculture to address agricultural challenges and inequities contributing to food insecurity.
Working directly with community groups in Katana and Kabare, the project seeks to enable local farmers to:
- Increase productivity, processing, and distribution capacity of local farms
- Improve and maintain soil quality in subsistence farming practices
- Enhance the autonomy of women participating in farming
- Increase access to the tools and training required to improve sustainable production
[Peanut harvest, 2022, PRWOP Women’s cooperative]
Acknowledgements
SKCDP is grateful for the training expertise being provided by Gardens of Hope; and for knowledge exchange and encouragement from Alphonse Nahimana, founder of Niragira Community Development Project (NCDP) who helped to inspire Michel’s project.
[Maize harvest, 2022, PRWOP Women’s cooperative]
[Title image: Michel Bahizire, SKCDP project officer, meeting with community farmers in Kabare ahead of the training event]