The challenges of investing in agriculture in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has immense agricultural potential, but it is often overlooked in favor of other sectors, such as mining. However, MP Olive Mudekereza from Walungu territory in South Kivu is sounding the alarm and calling on the Congolese government to invest in agriculture to reduce imports and regulate exchange market rates.
According to the MP, it is urgent to put in place measures to stop the economic haemorrhage caused by massive imports. He takes the example of Kenya, which exported 7,000 tons of avocados worth $64 million in just three months. He points out that the DRC has a diversity of crops and high quality products, such as avocados, plums, maracujas and pineapples from Idjwi.
To take full advantage of this advantage, Olive Mudekereza encourages the Congolese state to support farmers by setting up investment banks and agricultural banks offering attractive interest rates. It also proposes granting loans to micro-enterprises and women at rates of less than 2% per year over a period of 3 years, in order to boost the country’s agricultural economy.
The MP also stresses the importance of rehabilitating agricultural service roads to facilitate the transport of agricultural products to markets. By improving infrastructure, it will be possible to encourage the processing of local products and increase their added value.
By investing in agriculture, the DRC could become a major player on the regional and even international market. With its natural wealth and diversity of products, the country has the potential to become an economic locomotive. However, this requires coordinated efforts from both government and the private sector to fully exploit this potential.
In conclusion, it is essential to restore Congolese agriculture to its rightful place by investing massively in this sector. By doing so, the DRC could stimulate its own economy, reduce imports and strengthen its food sovereignty. It is time for the Congolese government to take concrete action to support farmers and promote rural development