As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) launches its new agricultural campaign under the ministerial spotlight, a strong voice from environmental civil society is rising. Mr. Josué Aruna, director of the Congo Basin Conservation Society network and a committed advocate for sustainable agroecology in the Congo Basin, vigorously challenges the authorities on the national agricultural strategy, which he considers disconnected from the country’s realities and urgent needs.
The Minister of Agriculture recently unveiled, with great fanfare, a campaign focused on developing industrial agriculture centered on cocoa, coffee, and oil palm cultivation, supported heavily by heavy machinery such as tractors. However, this choice seems to overlook a crucial fact: the majority of rural populations in the DRC are still struggling to secure their basic food survival. “I am surprised that our authorities make decisions without consulting the population,” laments Mr. Aruna. For him, this industrial approach does not address food sovereignty nor the immediate needs of communities. “We have just experienced a situation where the DRC had to import maize from Zambia to feed its population, and now we are launching an agricultural program focused on export crops while our small villages still lack the means to produce their own food.”
Mr. Aruna is blunt: the launched agricultural campaign does not promote sustainable agriculture that protects the forest, the country’s life-supporting basin. He describes the ministerial strategy as “conventional agriculture with all the damage we have witnessed in terms of deforestation.” While the country has committed to conserving its biodiversity and fighting climate change, this industrial approach seems, in his view, to run counter to these goals. “Our vision should be to feed the people through agriculture that does not destroy nature,” he insists, warning that government projects — notably the corridor initiative toward Kivu-Kinshasa — risk becoming “stillborn projects” due to lack of coordination.
One of the harshest criticisms concerns the massive importation of uncontrolled seeds and GMOs. Mr. Aruna stresses the need to promote local peasant seeds, which he calls “true guarantors of food sovereignty” and a resilient agricultural system in the face of climate change. “The country does not yet have a clear seed policy, and importing foreign seeds risks destroying our food systems and natural habitats,” he warns. He also calls for strengthening local agricultural research centers, such as INERA, to ensure the analysis and protection of peasant seeds. “We refuse to see GMOs and chemical fertilizers invade our lands at the risk of losing our unique biodiversity,” he adds.
Beyond technical criticism, Mr. Aruna especially denounces the lack of consultation with concerned stakeholders, notably rural communities and civil society organizations. According to him, “some political leaders distract the Head of State and public opinion with misguided priorities,” whereas it is urgent to establish inclusive dialogue. He demands that government decisions be made “in consultation with actors on the ground, so that agricultural policies genuinely meet the people’s needs and realize the presidential vision of a strong, prosperous, and united Congo.”
The speaker also emphasizes the importance of mobilizing Congolese youth, who represent a vital resource for agricultural development. “We have millions of hectares of unused land and a young, dynamic population. They need appropriate tools, supported politically, so they can engage in resilient and sustainable agriculture,” he affirms. His own organization leads local initiatives in the Maniema and South Kivu provinces focused on agroecology and the development of peasant seed systems. These projects demonstrate that “even during times of war, the presence of peasant seeds in villages restores hope to communities,” he highlights.
Facing social and food emergencies, Mr. Aruna calls on the Minister of Agriculture Muindo Nzangi to reconsider his strategy: “The million dollars invested in cocoa, coffee, and tractors should be redirected to smallholders by promoting local seeds and agroecology.” He reminds that export crops take at least five to six years to yield results—a timeframe too long given the immediate needs of the population. “We cannot wait five, six, or seven years for results while our communities are hungry today,” he insists.
The conclusion is clear: the DRC stands at a crossroads between two opposing agricultural visions. On one side, a government-driven agro-industrial model, supported by ambitious official communication but disconnected from rural realities. On the other, an agroecological vision championed by civil society, advocating for local, sustainable agriculture that respects biodiversity and aims for food sovereignty. In this context, civil society issues a pressing call: it is time to establish a coherent agricultural policy based on population consultation, strengthening local capacities, and environmental preservation. Only such an approach can allow Congo to realize the presidential vision of a strong, prosperous country respectful of its ecosystems.
By Franck Zongwe Lukama