The Congolese parliament approved the very first framework act for the agricultural sector. New in the D.R. Congo are the introduction of an agricultural register and the establishment of a national foundation for agriculture development.
Seventy percent of the Congolese population depends on agriculture. No other sector contributes more to the gross national product.
However, in Congo farming is not yet perceived as a fully-fledged job. The lack of a cohesive agriculture policy is costing the country tons of money. Yearly, 640,000 tons of food have to be imported from abroad to feed the Congolese population.
Years of discussion preceded the framework act. Initially, the Congolese policy makers were convinced that all prosperity would come from large-scale plantations and not from the many micro-farmers. “Luckily the law acknowledges the importance of family farming for the Congolese economy.”
Trias
July 31, 2011
DR Congo passes first agriculture framework act
Categories DRCongo, policy issues