Launch of the 2023-2024 season A agricultural campaign in Uvira: New hope for agriculture in the DRC
The provincial Minister of Agriculture of the South Kivu province, Jean Bosco Ruteye Kitambala, recently launched the 2023-2024 season A agricultural campaign in the Uvira region, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. As part of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA-DRC) program, this initiative aims to strengthen the region’s agricultural sector and fight against food insecurity.
Minister Ruteye highlighted President Félix Tshisekedi’s commitment to putting an end to food insecurity by promoting the development of agriculture. Through the ATA-DRC program, the aim is to eradicate famine and transform the agricultural sector with a focus on smart agriculture and direct support to farmers.
The season A agricultural campaign was launched with the distribution of seeds to farmers in the Uvira territory by the youth brigade of the African Agricultural Leadership Institute (AALI). Each farmer received corn, fertilizer, rice, inoculant and soybean seeds to help them start their crops.
This initiative was welcomed with enthusiasm by local farmers who see this as an opportunity to develop their agricultural activities and improve their food security. On a 250 hectare field in Matama, corn and soybean seeds were planted, marking an important step towards the development of the region.
The ATA-DRC program, initiated by President Tshisekedi, aims to increase agricultural productivity by supporting farmers and promoting profitable practices focused on agricultural mechanization. The implementation of this program is carried out by the African Agricultural Leadership Institute (AALI) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
The 2023-2024 season A agricultural campaign in Uvira thus represents new hope for the agricultural sector in the region and a step towards the fight against food insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thanks to the support of the government and the ATA-DRC program, local farmers will be able to develop their activities and contribute to the transformation of the country’s agricultural sector.