The article entitled “Potato supply in North Kivu: local traders call for an end to the war” highlights a worrying situation in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Due to the war in the region, local potato production has been severely affected, forcing traders to source potatoes from other Eastern countries like Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya.
According to Oscar Bizimana, president of the Association of Food Produce Sellers, this situation is alarming because not only do traders have to cross several borders to obtain potatoes, but prices have also increased considerably. A 100 kilo bag, which was previously sold for between 70 and 80 dollars, is currently trading for between 125 and 130 dollars on the Goma market.
The war in the North Kivu region has had a significant impact on local agriculture, with many farmers forced to relocate and leave their land. Potato-producing areas such as Masisi, Nyiragongo and Rutshuru are particularly affected by clashes between local armed groups, the FARDC and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebellion.
Local traders are therefore calling on the government to end the war in order to allow agricultural production to resume and guarantee sufficient food supplies for the population. They emphasize that locally produced potatoes are available only 40 km from Goma, but access difficulties and the security situation force them to source elsewhere.
This situation highlights the harmful consequences of war on the daily lives of populations and recalls the importance of peace and stability to ensure the well-being of all. The Congolese government must take concrete measures to end the conflicts in the North Kivu region and allow communities to return to normal life, with adequate access to food and agricultural resources.
With the hope of a quick resolution of the situation, traders and the population of North Kivu continue to struggle to obtain basic necessities and hope for a better future, where the war will be a distant memory.