Congo Kinshasa : Amis-Kivu
In the Democratic Republic of Congo rural population accounts for over 85% of the society and agriculture often constitutes the main source of income for rural families. Unfortunately, the series of wars, armed conflicts, looting, insecurity and displacements have acutely affected local population and made farming difficult.
The Amis-Kivu (“Friends of Kivu”) association has its seat in Bukavu and operates mainly in the Kivu Lake region in the South Kivu province (the East of Congo). This area faces a demographic explosion entailing shortages of arable land. Moreover, the little land available has been over-cultivated which led to its severe depletion.
A project to assist the local population: Created in 2004, Amis-Kivu has been carrying out a programme designed to fight poverty in rural areas and to revive agriculture, stockbreeding, and fishing. Its purpose is to contribute to the efforts undertaken in Kivu region aiming to assure food security thanks to an improved crops production. Local associations participate in this programme which benefits the entire rural population. Thanks to its background (originally it was a part of an association dedicated to emergency assistance and integrated development programmes) Amis-Kivu is renowned and considered trustworthy by local community members.
A sustainable agriculture which gives results: The association always works in an integrated approach evaluating the local situation and taking into account environmental problems in order to come up with optimal solutions.
For instance, if land erosion is a problem in a particular village, Amis-Kivu will work together with the local associations helping them to plant hedges and tree species that can regenerate the land and to use the compost. Plantlets are grown in nurseries run by the local community members.
At the same time, Amis-Kivu leads actions encouraging people to implement the system of animal housing which can prevent animals (goats, pigs, etc.) from damaging new plantations. The approach adopted by Amis-Kivu enables various local actors to work together and eventually to benefit from the results achieved with the help of the association.
