In Kisangani, the small house of Djemba Ismael, 45, stands majestically, a testament to his success in growing white maize. Originally from Tshopo province, Djemba recently sold five tons of maize to Dokas, a local entrepreneur, as part of the Program for the Development of Degraded Savannahs and Forests (PSFD). With gratitude, he shares: “Before, I was content to grow cassava and rice, but that was not enough. Thanks to white maize, I was able to send my children to school and finally build this house that means so much to me.”
White maize, recently introduced by Dokas with the support of PSFD, has given rise to a new agricultural dynamic in the region. This innovative model combines maize cultivation, a key food crop, with cocoa cultivation, a perennial crop with high added value. Thus, the immediate income generated by the sale of white corn has allowed farmers to plan for the long term. In just two years, the pilot phase produced 450 tons of cornmeal, processed locally in a factory set up by Dokas. This local production has advantageously replaced costly imports from Uganda, and now supplies Kisangani households with quality products.
The impact of this model is palpable, and Djemba Ismael is not the only one to benefit from it. Élysée Angbongi, another farmer in the region, underlines the importance of the technical support received: “Before, our cultivation method was chaotic. Now, we benefit from quality seeds and regular technical monitoring provided by the project’s agronomists”. This collaborative approach, bringing together farmers and entrepreneurs around productive alliances, promotes the creation of a solid and sustainable local value chain.
From an economic point of view, the results are undeniable. Dokas has been able to secure a local market by setting up a semolina processing unit, making this product accessible at a reasonable price for the inhabitants of Kisangani. In addition, the by-products of this processing, such as corn bran, are used in livestock farming, thus allowing for full valorization of agricultural resources.
This success does not stop at the borders of Kisangani. Dominique Kasimba, the founder of Dokas, plans to expand the cultivated areas to 1,000 hectares, in order to increase the production of corn and cocoa. His objective is clear: to supply the Kinshasa market via the Congo River, thus taking advantage of reduced transport costs to compete advantageously with imports. With this expansion, Dokas hopes to produce up to 3,000 tons of corn semolina per year, thus opening up new economic prospects for the region.
This model, supported by targeted subsidies aimed at supporting part of the costs, empowers local producers. “The PSFD does not finance everything. Farmers must also contribute financially to take ownership of the project. This approach ensures the sustainability of the activities, even after the end of external funding,” Kasimba emphasizes.
The combination of white corn with perennial crops such as cocoa offers a tangible response to the environmental and economic challenges of the region. By stabilizing farms, this model helps limit deforestation and revalue previously degraded land. Testimonies from local farmers highlight this paradigm shift: “Before, we were forced to clear the forest to cultivate. Today, thanks to new practices, we protect nature while ensuring our subsistence”.
By supporting farming communities while boosting the local economy, the PSFD and its partners, like Dokas, are reinventing the role of agriculture in the Tshopo province. This innovative model could serve as a reference for other regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, thus offering a real roadmap for sustainable rural development.