IITA–AALI–Virunga Foundation pilot project boosts agricultural productivity for smallholder farmers in North Kivu
Smallholder farmers in Lubero territory, North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, are witnessing significant improvements in their harvests and agricultural practices thanks to the IITA–CGIAR, the African Agricultural Leadership Institute (AALI), and the Virunga Foundation pilot project for the Intensification of agricultural production.
Smallholder farmers in Lubero territory, North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, are witnessing significant improvements in their harvests and agricultural practices thanks to the IITA–CGIAR, the African Agricultural Leadership Institute (AALI), and the Virunga Foundation pilot project for the Intensification of agricultural production. The initiative supports farmers in adopting Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) technologies that strengthen soil productivity and increase yields of wheat, maize, and soybean. The project also marks the first step toward the future Kivu–Kinshasa Green Corridor, an ambitious program aimed at transforming agriculture across eastern DRC.
So far, the pilot project has reached 350 smallholder farmers, of whom 60 percent are women, through a combination of awareness campaigns, theoretical and practical training, and the distribution of improved seeds and fertilizers. In total, 1,577 people, mostly farmers, have been sensitized on ISFM and its benefits for sustainable agriculture. These awareness efforts help farmers understand not only how to apply the improved technologies, but also why such changes are essential for reviving soil health in a region that has experienced decades of land degradation.
Farmers received complete input kits that included hybrid wheat seed (Hyrax), improved maize seed (Bazooka), soybean seed (Mak Soya 3), and mineral fertilizers such as DAP and urea. These inputs enable farmers to immediately establish their production fields and apply the practices learned during training. One of the project participants explains how these improved technologies have changed his farming experience.