Resilience in potato fields in DRC

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) holds vast agricultural potential. With an estimated 80 million hectares of arable land and 4 million hectares suitable for irrigation most of it still uncultivated the country is often described as one of the world’s last great agricultural frontiers. Experts suggest it could feed up to two billion people and serve as a breadbasket for Africa.

Yet in the eastern province of North Kivu, this promise is overshadowed by conflict.

General view of the rural commune of Kibumba, Nyiragongo Territory, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Return to a Fragile Homeland

In Kibumba, a rural commune about 29 kilometers north of Goma along National Road RN2, residents are slowly returning after more than three years in displacement camps. Known for its fertile volcanic soils and market gardening, Kibumba has long supplied vegetables to Goma, as well as to Rubavu and Bukavu.

But recovery is uneven. Armed violence particularly involving the M23 has repeatedly forced families to flee. Since 2023, Kibumba has remained under the group’s control, restricting access to farmland and markets. The situation worsened in early 2025 when Goma also fell under the same control, further disrupting trade routes and food distribution.

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Bizi and Hardy transport a sack of potatoes from the fields to a distribution depot located along National Road No. 2 on a “tshikudu,” in the rural commune of Kibumba, Nyiragongo Territory, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, new waves of preventive displacement toward Goma and surrounding areas continue. Local authorities report that 2,875 households are currently displaced to areas such as Kanyaruchinya, Kibati, and Munigi. Many families undertake risky daily journeys back to their fields (report from May 2022).

Potato storage depots and sales and distribution points along National Road No. 2 in the rural commune of Kibumba, Nyiragongo Territory, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Gervais, 43, a father of seven children and manager of a potato depot, sells his goods at Birere Market, in the commune of Goma, city of Goma, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Farming Under Pressure

Agriculture in Kibumba revolves around potatoes, a staple crop and key source of income. Yet years of displacement have taken a toll.

Bizimana, a 30-year-old father of three, recently returned to his village after four years in a displacement camp. Without access to quality seeds, he now works on other people’s farms to support his family and pay school fees.

Bizimana, 30, a father of three children, stands in his village after returning from four years spent in a displacement camp. He now works in other people’s fields, cultivating potatoes without access to quality seeds to support his family and pay school fees, in Kibumba, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Soil degradation is another major challenge. During the conflict, abandoned fields were sometimes exploited without owners’ consent, often using improper techniques that damaged soil fertility.

Shunguhinga, a mother of four, illustrates the impact. Before the crisis, her field produced five bags of potatoes per season. After returning, her harvest declined significantly. “I planted 200 kilograms, but I harvested only 173,” she says.

Bizimana, 30, a father of three children, stands in his village after returning from four years spent in a displacement camp. He now works in other people’s fields, cultivating potatoes without access to quality seeds to support his family and pay school fees, in Kibumba, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Climate Challenges and Changing Seasons

Kibumba’s temperate climate, classified as Cfb under the Köppen Geiger system, traditionally supports agriculture, with average temperatures around 18°C.

However, climate variability is increasingly disrupting farming cycles. According to local agronomist Rusangiza, the recommended planting seasons April and July are becoming less predictable due to irregular rainfall. Excessive rain can damage crops and increase disease pressure, making planning more difficult for farmers already facing insecurity.

Aimerance, 35, a mother of seven children and potato farmer, poses in her field in the village of Rutovu, a rural commune. She complains about climate conditions, particularly the rains that prevent good harvests after the season. The soil is no longer favourable after the time she spent in a displacement camp near Goma because of the war

Disrupted Markets and Rising Costs

Conflict has also fractured supply chains. Kibumba’s produce once reached distant markets, even Kinshasa when air transport was still functional. Today, road insecurity limits access to major trade routes.

Farmers rely on both formal and informal markets, but incomes remain unstable. Essential agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and crop protection products are increasingly scarce and expensive due to disrupted supply chains.

Chiza, 23, loads a three-wheeled motorcycle at Birere Market, in the commune of Goma, city of Goma, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Food Insecurity on a National Scale

The crisis in Kibumba reflects a broader national emergency. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), millions of Congolese face acute food insecurity. Provinces such as North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Kasai Central are among the hardest hit.

Women at the Center of Resilience

Women play a central role in agriculture across the DRC, producing the majority of food crops for household consumption. In Kibumba, they are both the backbone of farming and among the most affected by the crisis.

Despite limited access to land, financing, and extension services, women continue to sustain agricultural production. Community cooperation through shared labor and resources has become a key survival strategy.

Women harvest potatoes in the rural commune of Kibumba, Nyiragongo Territory, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Efforts Toward Agricultural Recovery

On March 31, 2026, the African Agricultural Leadership Institute signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Agriculture to support agricultural transformation in the DRC. The partnership aims to improve productivity, strengthen food systems, and promote sustainable practices. However, implementation on the ground remains limited.

Nzihu, 31, irrigates a potato field in the rural commune of Kibumba to support agricultural development. Irrigation begins six weeks after planting. This process is carried out once a week until the final harvest

A Fragile but Determined Recovery

Today, Kibumba’s population is rebuilding in a fragile environment. Each morning, farmers return to their fields, while others sell produce along the roadside toward Goma. Agriculture remains central to daily life despite insecurity.

Farmers’ priorities are clear:

• Peace and security to safely access their land 

• Rehabilitation of fields and access to quality seeds 

• Improved market access and infrastructure 

• Modern agricultural support, including training and mechanization 

There is also strong support for national initiatives aimed at transforming agriculture and reducing reliance on subsistence farming.

Customers eat their dinner consisting of potatoes, rice, beans, and cabbage at an open-air restaurant in Birere Market, in the city of Goma, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Need for Political Commitment

The DRC’s agricultural potential is undeniable, yet it remains underdeveloped. A lack of clear and consistent government policy continues to hinder progress, with greater emphasis often placed on mining than on agriculture.

For farmers in Kibumba, resilience is not a choice it is a necessity. But without sustained investment, security, and a coherent national agricultural strategy, their efforts alone will not be enough to unlock the country’s vast potential.

Potatoes take between three and four months to mature in Kibumba. However, farmers still rely largely on traditional methods due to limited access to training, modern agricultural techniques, and inputs. Improving these conditions would significantly increase productivity and help farmers access broader regional markets, especially given the area’s fertile soils.

This story was produced with support from the Leveraging Knowledge Management to

Enhance Policy Harmonization and Domestication for Agricultural Transformation in East

and Southern Africa project led by the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy

Analysis Network (FANRPAN) and supported by AGRA

First published on InfoNile in English and French