**Agricultural disaster in Mbanza-Ngungu: the devastating impact of floods on the local economy**
Mbanza-Ngungu, an important agricultural region of Congo, was recently hit by a natural disaster that turned the lives of its inhabitants upside down. Floods caused by torrential rains ravaged more than 1,000 hectares of crops, dealing a severe blow to the local economy and exacerbating the difficulties already present in a fragile region.
The villages of the Boko sector groups were particularly affected by this tragedy. The cassava, corn, peanut, banana fields, as well as market garden crops such as tomatoes, eggplant and chives were completely destroyed by the raging waters of the Nkokozi and Nvuazi rivers. A calamity that plunges nearly thirty villages into distress and threatens the food security of thousands of people.
Victor Nzuzi Mbembe, a local development actor, highlights the devastating impact of these floods on the population: “Thousands of hectares are under water, plunging the region into an already precarious famine situation. Farmers, already weakened by climatic hazards, see their livelihoods destroyed, which leads to a rise in market prices, exacerbating the food crisis.”
The recurrence of these floods is a major concern. The previous year, the region had already been hit four times by similar disasters, without adequate assistance being provided to the inhabitants. Calls for the establishment of hydro-agricultural developments are increasing, but existing infrastructure, such as dikes and dams, are failing and insufficient to protect crops from climatic hazards.
Last January, nearly 2,000 hectares of agricultural land were devastated by floods, plunging the region into an unprecedented crisis. The vulnerability of this region to extreme weather events calls for urgent and effective measures to protect the livelihoods of local populations.
This new disaster highlights the urgency of rethinking agricultural and environmental policies in the Mbanza-Ngungu region. Authorities, international organizations and civil society must join forces to put in place sustainable and resilient solutions to the climate challenges that threaten food security and the local economy. Only a collective effort and awareness of the urgency of the situation will protect vulnerable populations and ensure a prosperous future for this essential agricultural region of Congo.