In the Ruzizi plain, in South Kivu, more than 10,000 small-scale rice producers contribute each year to the region’s food supply. Among them, women play a central role. As members of agricultural cooperatives supported by 𝑳𝑨 𝑫𝑰𝑭𝑭𝑬́𝑹𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬 through the 𝗡𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗡𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 project, they embody strength, resilience, innovation, and hope in the face of the economic, climatic, and social challenges affecting rural communities.
In a context marked by economic insecurity, the impacts of climate change, and limited access to markets, these women play a vital role in sustaining agricultural production and local food security. They are involved in all stages of the rice value chain: seed selection, field preparation, transplanting, crop maintenance, harvesting, processing, and marketing.
Through the 𝗡𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗡𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 project, 𝑳𝑨 𝑫𝑰𝑭𝑭𝑬́𝑹𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬 supports these women in strengthening their technical, organizational, and entrepreneurial skills. The goal is to transform family rice farming into a viable economic activity capable of generating sustainable income and strengthening household resilience to economic and environmental shocks.
This approach is fully aligned with the priorities of 𝑳𝑨 𝑫𝑰𝑭𝑭𝑬́𝑹𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬, which places economic resilience, the development of sustainable agricultural systems, and the empowerment of rural populations at the heart of its actions. By supporting small-scale producers and especially women, it becomes possible to create local economic opportunities, reduce household vulnerability, and strengthen peace and stability in the region.
The 𝗡𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗡𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 project specifically aims to improve rice productivity, facilitate access to markets, promote resilient agricultural practices, and develop local value-added processing mechanisms. By strengthening agricultural cooperatives and promoting women’s entrepreneurship, the project contributes to building a more inclusive and robust rural economy.
Despite the challenges, women continue to invest their energy, skills, and vision in building a better future for their families and communities. Their commitment shows that resilient agriculture does not rely solely on infrastructure or technology, but also on the people who drive local development every day.
Today, the women of the Ruzizi plain are not only rice producers. They are agents of change, rural entrepreneurs, and builders of economic resilience. By investing in their potential, we invest in food security, economic stability, and the sustainable future of the entire region.
The 𝗡𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗡𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 project illustrates how inclusive agriculture, driven by local communities themselves, 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨.
