Why Is DRC at the Top of the Food Crisis Rankings When Nearly All of Its Population Is Involved in Agriculture? (Italian)

An English summary of this report is below. Read the original report in Italian here.

Development programs often end up favoring large industrial projects instead of helping small-scale producers. What can be done: reporting from the field

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), there's a paradox of food insecurity: it is a country with vast agricultural potential but it struggles to feed its own population. Despite having 80 million hectares of arable land, the DRC remains at the top of global food insecurity rankings, with over 25 million people suffering from poor access to food.

The primary reasons for this paradox include ongoing conflicts, lack of financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to tools and technical skills. Local farmers face numerous challenges, such as poor-quality seeds, insufficient storage, and a lack of machinery. For example, a group of small farmers in Budjala grows peanuts, beans, and bananas on just 10 hectares but struggles with rudimentary tools and a lack of processing facilities.

However, there are some NGOs that are trying to address these issues by offering small loans, training, and infrastructure projects to farmers. However, the results cannot be seen yet.

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