Environmental Defenders Launches Terra Cooperative to Combat Poverty and Empower Farmers in DR Congo

Environmental Defenders, a leading organization promoting human rights and environmental conservation, has announced the establishment of Terra Cooperative, an agricultural cooperative aimed at fighting poverty and bolstering livelihoods for farming communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Launching with an initial network of 10,000 farmers across Mahagi, Djugu, Mambasa, and other locations in Ituri province, Terra Cooperative will eventually expand its operations throughout the DR Congo. The cooperative will focus on addressing the pressing issues of poverty and lack of market access faced by farmers in the North Eastern region.

Terra Cooperative will provide a multifaceted approach to supporting its members, including:

• Capacity Building: Providing education and training to members on sustainable farming practices, climate-resilient agriculture, and financial literacy.
• Climate Resilience: Equipping farmers with the knowledge and resources to adapt to climate change, conserve the environment, and potentially benefit from carbon credit initiatives.
• Financial Empowerment: Facilitating access to agricultural financing and loans, enabling farmers to invest in their operations and increase productivity.
• Market Access: Organizing collective marketing initiatives, establishing market linkages, and facilitating bulk trading to ensure fair prices for farmers’ produce.
• Value Addition: Supporting the processing and value addition of agricultural products to access higher-value markets and increase profitability.

The cooperative will initially focus on a diverse range of crops including coffee, rice, cotton, cocoa, cassava, fruits, vegetables, and livestock, with the goal of supplying both domestic and international markets.

“Terra Cooperative represents a significant step towards creating a more just and equitable agricultural system in the DR Congo,” stated Lonyo Sarah, senior Program officer at Environmental Defenders. “By empowering farmers with the tools, resources, and market access they need, we aim to unlock the vast agricultural potential of this region and create a brighter future for Congolese farming communities.”

The development requirements of Ituri, specifically Mahagi, Mambasa, Djugu, and other territories within the Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, are extremely demanding. Only a small number of villages have access to public services, and the limited number of non-governmental and private sector organizations are still in their early stages of growth. Hence, over 95% of the entire population resides in dire destitution, devoid of any hope for a more promising tomorrow.

Rural households experience significant uncertainties in their means of living and Approximately 50% of households in Ituri are impoverished and lack the economic resources to sustain their livelihoods. The region experiences elevated levels of persistent poverty, primarily due to the meager profits generated from subsistence farming and the insufficient expertise of farming families to venture into lucrative microenterprises. The limited number of income-generating enterprises that carry low risk are marked by low sales volume, product replication, dependence on seasonal demand, weak branding, and most importantly, relatively narrow profit margins. The restricted chance to broaden income-generating methods has been partly exacerbated by a deficiency in managerial expertise and limited access to financial services.

One of the challenges is the long-standing war and internal disputes in Ituri, which have been occurring for the past 25 years. These conflicts have severely disrupted agricultural activities, to the extent that farming has been greatly impacted.The region of Ituri has experienced a lack of market access for agricultural commodities due to long-standing investor apprehension about investing in a dangerous or war-torn area.This situation has exacerbated the conditions and is the cause of inequality between Ituri and other provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Environmental Defenders has been providing assistance to promote economic growth and enhance the quality of life for farmers in Ituri. Specifically, the organization has been involved in agricultural development initiatives in various territories within Ituri province, including Mahagi, Djugu, and Mambasa. Since 2021, Environmental Defenders has been conducting training programs for farmers and offering free extension services to agricultural workers. These activities focus on educating farmers in climate-smart agriculture techniques and providing support for Village and Loan Saving Associations.

Environmental Defenders has actively participated in actions such as establishing, officially registering, providing assistance to, and providing resources for women’s groups. Enhancing agricultural efficiency and market reach by providing training, facilitating the establishment and providing reinforcement of producer groups and cooperatives, organizing knowledge-sharing events, promoting communication among many stakeholders, offering business mentorship and coaching in areas such as gender equality, life skills, financial literacy, and basic numeracy skills. The organisation has enhanced the resilience of smallholder farmers and farm workers to cope with the impacts of climate change and fluctuations in commodity prices. The organisation has enhanced the capabilities of small-scale farmers by disseminating optimal techniques and employing community-driven agricultural extension services to augment their understanding of climate-resilient farming, agro-ecology, and nature-cantered approaches, among other topics.

The establishment of Terra Cooperative represents a continuation of the longstanding commitment by Environmental Defenders to combat poverty, enhance livelihoods, and preserve biodiversity in the Ituri region.

Terra Cooperative is actively seeking partnerships with organizations and stakeholders committed to supporting sustainablee development ,just and peaceful society as well economic justice.

To inquire about partnerships and collaborations or to obtain further information about the situation in Ituri province, please contact us at contact@watetezi.org .