** Beni’s cocoa: a coveted wealth, a blood present **
At the heart of the incessant disorders which strike the region of Beni, in North Kivu, the exploitation of cocoa, one of the flagship cultures of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), turns into a human tragedy. Farmers, who once cultivated one of the products most popular with the international market, are today faced with a real scourge. Violence, theft and corruption undergo not only their livelihoods but also threaten the economic future of a province already weakened by armed conflicts.
### A culture in danger
Beni’s cocoa, considered one of the best in the world because of its distinctive taste and its quality, is today the prey of unscrupulous looters. According to recent testimonies collected by Fatshimetrie.org, thieves are not content to steal harvests: they kill and injure farmers, sometimes infiltrating under the disguises of armed groups such as the combatants of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). This phenomenon is not new, but it has intensified in recent years, exacerbating a cycle of violence that eats away at the region.
### Alarming statistics
A study by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) estimates that around 40% of cocoa harvests are lost each year due to flights. This represents a potential loss of millions of dollars for farmers, but also a devaluation of the product on the international market. The consequences are catastrophic: while cocoa prices are up on the world market, Congolese producers, they are unbearable pressure, forcing many of them to harvest immature beans to avoid being completely stripped.
### The accomplice role of the authorities
The involvement of certain military forces in this traffic only aggravates the situation. The words of Colonel Karim Abdoul, who declared that “gaps sheep” exist within the FARDC, testify to a disturbing reality where corruption allows criminals to prosper with impunity. The Mwami Atsu Taibo Alphonse, a local customary chief, also expressed his frustrations in the face of the slowness of the authorities to implement effective security measures: “The cocoa market is disorganized because of this constant insecurity. The law is often not applied, and those which should protect producers become their worst enemies.”
### Quality and competition issues
Beyond humanitarian issues, the flight of cocoa poses serious challenges to the quality of the product itself. The producers, pushed by circumstances, picking non -ripe beans to avoid the loss of their meager harvest. This leads to a deterioration in the quality of Congolese cocoa, making products less competitive on the international market. In a world where consumers are looking for ethical and quality products, the reputation of Beni’s cocoa could be irreparably tarnished, thus reducing economic opportunities for those who depend on this culture.
### Towards an agricultural revolution?
To reverse this trend, a holistic and integrated approach is necessary. This could include the implementation of awareness programs for farmers on the need to work in cooperation, the development of traceability mechanisms for the product, and the use of modern technologies to secure fields. In addition, the support of international organizations and NGOs could strengthen the capacities of producers, allowing them to access ethical markets.
### Conclusion
The situation in Beni is mired in a tragic complexity, where the richness of a culture comes up against human misery. If farmers’ accounts often end with a desperate call for help, which is at stake goes beyond simple survival: it is a question of dignity, justice and the future. Cocoa could be a lever for sustainable development, but provided that it is no longer synonymous with suffering. Hope is now based on a collective and concerted action, both local and international, to restore the integrity of this culture and offer a puff of oxygen to a community in distress.