In the Ruzizi Plain of Uvira, South Kivu, agriculture is showing resilience despite ongoing insecurity. The Agricultural Transformation Agenda in the Democratic Republic of Congo (ATA-RDC), a presidential initiative, continues to deliver tangible results through the combined technical support of the African Agricultural Leadership Institute (AALI) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The program aims to strengthen food security, boost local economies, and support rural communities toward sustainable and inclusive agricultural development.
On July 18, 2025, AALI and IITA organized a results-sharing workshop with the provincial government of South Kivu, led by Governor Jean Jacques Purusi. The workshop followed field visits by the provincial delegation, allowing officials to see project achievements firsthand and hear directly from local beneficiaries. These exchanges highlighted how the joint efforts of AALI and IITA—combining technical expertise, innovation, and youth engagement—have transformed local agriculture and improved livelihoods.
The region’s insecurity required practical adaptations. To ensure families could harvest despite limited field access, short-cycle crops were prioritized. Maize was replaced with sweet potatoes, and amaranth was introduced in household gardens. This strategy enabled over 1,500 families to maintain production, diversify diets, and reduce risk during the cropping seasons A and B of 2024/2025.
The collaborative efforts of AALI and IITA produced measurable results:
- 2,661 tonnes of maize and 1,280 tonnes of amaranth harvested;
- 1 million fingerlings produced and 6 tonnes of fish collected, increasing incomes by 60%;
- 8 small mechanization centers supporting more than 300 producers;
- 2,508 farmers trained in improved agricultural and post-harvest practices;
- 5 youth-led agribusinesses created, generating 62 jobs;
- 145 youth and women trained in soybean processing and bakery skills.
AALI’s Youth Agricultural Brigade, comprising 68 brigadiers (28 lead trainers and 40 community brigadiers), provides close mentoring, implements Block-Farming for landless producers, and supports youth entrepreneurship. Simultaneously, IITA develops and introduces high-yield maize and soybean varieties adapted to local conditions, ensuring sustainable productivity gains.
The workshop concluded with recommendations to scale innovations nationally and increase political support to consolidate achievements. Governor Purusi commended the joint initiative, emphasizing that it reflects the President’s vision for a profound agricultural transformation, even under challenging conditions.
Through ATA-RDC, AALI and IITA demonstrate that technical support, youth engagement, and innovation are key to building resilient, inclusive, and productive agricultural systems in South Kivu.