As part of preparations for the 2026 Season B agricultural season, the Youth Brigade of the African Agricultural Leadership Institute (AALI) carried out an awareness and farmer identification campaign from March 2 to 8, 2026, across several localities in Lubero territory, North Kivu.
The initiative aims to build on the promising results achieved during the pilot phase of wheat production in the region. It is part of a broader effort led by the AALI–International Institute of Tropical Agriculture–Virunga Foundation consortium to sustainably strengthen local wheat production and support smallholder farmers under the Kivu–Kinshasa Green Corridor initiative.
During the field campaign, community meetings, information sessions, and mobilization activities were organized in more than ten localities and villages, including Mulo, Lubero Centre, Luotu, Masereka, Ngitse, Kyondo, Magheria, Kasongwere, Ivingu, Kanyatsi, Kamihunga, and Kaseghe. These engagements helped build farmers’ capacity while fostering collective momentum around the structuring and sustainable revival of the wheat value chain in the territory.
As a result of the campaign, a significant number of farmers interested in wheat cultivation were identified. The number of participating producers increased from 350 during the previous season to 3,000 for the 2026 season B. This growth reflects the impact of field-based awareness efforts and the rising interest of farming communities in revitalizing this strategic crop.
The identified farmers were also informed about the technical support that will be provided during the upcoming agricultural season. Particular emphasis was placed on the adoption of appropriate agricultural technologies promoted by the consortium, including small-scale mechanization and integrated soil fertility management (ISFM). The importance of farmer organization and collective action to sustainably improve wheat production and market access was also highlighted.
Through this initiative, AALI and its partners reaffirm their commitment to advancing an innovative and inclusive African agriculture that creates opportunities for rural communities.