The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has immense agricultural potential, with nearly 80 million hectares of arable land, of which only 1% is currently cultivated. However, the agricultural sector in the DRC has long been neglected in favor of the mineral industry, particularly copper mining. But things are starting to change.
As part of the desire to highlight this agricultural potential, the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture of the DRC, in collaboration with the IFC, the AfDB and One Africa Forum, are organizing the “DRC Agribusiness Forum”, which will be held in Kinshasa from October 4 to 5, 2023. The central theme of this event is “The revenge of the soil on the subsoil”, and it aims to attract strategic investments in the agricultural sector.
This forum will bring together more than 500 professionals, government officials, financing organizations and investors, who will have the opportunity to discover the agricultural potential of the DRC and discuss investment opportunities in the sector. Currently, agriculture represents around 20% of the DRC’s GDP and employs almost 70% of its population.
Despite its immense agricultural resources, the budget allocated to the agricultural sector in the DRC remains low, with only around 3% devoted to this activity. However, recent years have seen a slight increase in agricultural production, notably for crops such as cassava, maize, rice and pulses, as well as for agro-industrial products such as coffee, cocoa, tea and tobacco.
The “DRC Agribusiness Forum” therefore presents itself as a major opportunity to stimulate the agricultural sector in the DRC, by attracting investments and promoting the development of sustainable value chains. This initiative could allow the DRC to regain its place as an agricultural leader on the world stage, and to contribute significantly to the country’s economy while improving the living conditions of its population.
In conclusion, the DRC has enormous, but underexploited, agricultural potential. The DRC Agribusiness Forum aims to highlight this potential and attract investments in the agricultural sector to boost the country’s economic development. This is a unique opportunity to revive Congolese soil and strengthen the agricultural sector for the benefit of all.