The agricultural potential of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is undeniable. With nearly 80 million hectares of arable land, the country has the capacity to feed its population and even much of Africa. However, despite its abundant mineral resources, the DRC still fails to ensure adequate food security.
Under the presidency of Félix Tshisekedi, a change of course is underway. The government is emphasizing a clear strategy: favoring the ground rather than the subsoil. The idea is to develop the agricultural sector and reduce the country’s food dependency, which costs the Congolese economy nearly $3 billion every year.
With this in mind, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance recently launched the “DRC AGRIBUSINESS FORUM”, scheduled for October 4 and 5, 2023. This initiative aims to strengthen the agricultural sector by promoting a strong public-private partnership. The forum will bring together experts, investors and key players in the agricultural field, both nationally and internationally.
During a preparatory meeting held at the Hotel Béatrice in Kinshasa, the Minister of Agriculture, José Mpanda, underlined that the State will now play a role of facilitator to encourage the private sector to invest massively in farming. For his part, the Minister of Finance, Nicolas Kazadi, insisted on the importance of a transversal approach, where all the key sectors are involved to support agriculture.
The theme of the forum, “The Revenge of the Soil on the Basement”, reflects President Tshisekedi’s vision. The objective is to mobilize the resources and expertise needed to effectively develop the agricultural sector in the DRC.
By emphasizing agriculture, the DRC hopes not only to improve the food security of its population, but also to stimulate its economy and create jobs. This transition to a more sustainable and productive agriculture will also reduce dependence on food imports and strengthen the country’s autonomy.
The “DRC AGRIBUSINESS FORUM” is therefore a key step in this new agricultural strategy of the DRC. By bringing together key players in the sector, it offers a platform for discussion, collaboration and the search for concrete solutions to improve the productivity and sustainability of Congolese agriculture.
With this new orientation towards agriculture, the DRC is opening up new development prospects and positioning itself as a major player in food production in Africa. The potential of the Congolese soil is immense, and it is time to exploit this precious asset to offer a better future to the Congolese population and contribute to the food security of the continent