Agriculture in DR Congo accounts for about 17.4% of GDP and 55.3% of the employed population. Although the majority of the country's population is employed in the agricultural sector, production is based on low-efficiency subsistence farming.
DR Congo has vast lands suitable for agriculture and a favorable climate, but the poor quality of the existing infrastructure, as well as a high level of poverty, do not allow the sector to fully develop its potential. Increasing the country's agricultural productivity is one of the government's most important objectives in improving the food security of its people. Nevertheless, agriculture in the DR Congo is currently unable to meet the needs of the population, and the country is a net importer of food products.
The main crop grown in DR Congo is cassava. According to FAO data, the volume produced in 2021 was 45,673.5 thousand tons, an increase of 6.8% over 2020. Throughout 2017-2021, production grew at an average annual rate of 4.7%. DR Congo is the second largest cassava producer in the world, second only to Nigeria. In addition, the country is one of the leading producers of plantains. In 2021, the volume of grown products amounted to 4,884.2 thousand tons, which is 0.4% more than in 2020. The average annual growth rate of production of this crop for 2017-2021 was 0.3%. About 800 thousand tons of bananas are also grown annually in the DR Congo.
Production of grain crops is actively growing in the country. In 2021, the total production amounted to 3,882.1 thousand tons, which is 4.3% more than in 2020. On average, production increased by 2.9% per year over 2017-2021. Most of the grown products are corn, with production of 2,243.4 thousand tons in 2021 (+2.6% over 2020). The average annual growth rate for 2017-2021 was 0.6%. Rice production is growing most rapidly, with a volume of 1,580.6 thousand tons in 2021 (+7.1% to 2020). Over 2017-2021, the indicator increased by an average of 6.8% per year.
Among other crops, sugarcane and oil palm fruits show significant production volumes. In 2021, 2,180.4 and 2,120.4 thousand tons of production were grown respectively. Sugarcane production increased by 0.8% compared to 2020, while the volume growth of oil palm fruits grown was 0.1%. The average annual growth rates for 2017-2021 were 1.4% and 3.1% respectively.
The livestock sector in DR Congo is relatively poorly developed and unable to meet the needs of the population, the country depends on imported supplies of feed, feed components and equipment. In 2021, only 8.9 thousand tons of raw milk were produced in DR Congo. Most of the meat production is accounted for by wild animal meat — in 2021, according to FAO, this type accounted for 33.1% of the meat produced in the country. Among other types of meat, pork and beef are the largest in terms of production volumes (30.1 and 21.1 thousand tons in 2021).
The coastline of the DR Congo is no more than 40 km, and most of the fish produced is freshwater. At the same time, the country has significant aquatic biological resources — in 2021, fish production amounted to 233.9 thousand tons. Most of the products produced account for small artisanal fishing — about 228.7 thousand tons. The country also has an aquaculture sector, but its volumes are insignificant — only 5.2 thousand tons in 2021.
Import of agricultural products
The country is a net importer of food products. In 2018-2020, there was a gradual decrease in the volume of imports of agricultural products of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2022, the supply of agricultural products amounted to 1,184.0 million US dollars, which is 28.1% higher than in 2021. The average annual growth rate of imports in value for 2018-2022 was 15.9%.
In the structure of imports of agricultural products of the DR Congo in value terms in 2022, wheat was the main crop, the share of which was 9.9% or 116.7 million US dollars. The top 3 imported products also included frozen fish (7.5%) and malt extract, other food products from flour, cereals, starch, milk (7.0%). In total, the top 10 imported products accounted for 58.7% of all imports of agricultural products of DR Congo.
In 2022, the most significant increase relative to 2021 was in the supply of liquor (9.4 times or +40.5 million US dollars) and frozen fish (2.1 times or +47.3 million US dollars). At the same time, imports of wheat (-8.6% or -11.0 million US dollars) and other food products (-21.5% or -12.5 million US dollars) decreased.
In 2022, the main suppliers of agricultural products to DR Congo were Argentina (5.6% of imports in value), Belgium (5.6%), France (5.4%), the USA (5.4%) and Brazil (5.2%). In total, the top 10 countries accounted for 50.8% of the value of imports of agricultural products of DR Congo.
Most significantly in 2021-2022, imports of agricultural products to DR Congo increased from Argentina (4.8 times or +52.6 million US dollars), India (+59.9% or +19.8 million US dollars) and Ireland (+49.8% or +19.7 million US dollars). Argentina increased wheat exports by 21.6 times (or by 43.3 million US dollars). India has increased the supply of rice (by 2.1 times or by 13.8 million US dollars) and alcohol (by 2.3 times or by 3.1 million US dollars). Ireland exported more malt extract, other food products like flour, cereals, starch, milk (+50.0% or +18.1 million US dollars) and milk powder (+81.3% or +2.2 million US dollars).
Of the top 10 countries, only South Africa (-39.3% or -35.0 million US dollars) and the USA (-12.9% or -9.4 million US dollars) experienced a decrease in the supply of agricultural products in 2022. South Africa has reduced supplies to DR Congo for a number of items. The United States reduced the supply of other food products by 63.8% (-23.0 million US dollars) and poultry meat by 69.6% (-6.8 million US dollars).
Export of agricultural products
In 2022, exports of agricultural products of the Democratic Republic of the Congo amounted to US$ 162.0 million, an increase of 15.2% compared to 2021. For 2018-2022, the country's exports increased annually by an average of 15.1%.
The basis of exports of agricultural products of DR Congo in 2022 traditionally consisted of cocoa beans (55.5% of exports in value) and coffee (19.3%) — these products together accounted for 74.8% of exports. In total, the top 10 goods accounted for 96.2% of the exports in value of agricultural products of the DR Congo.
Exports of coffee (+63.2% or by 12.1 million US dollars) and whiskey (from 21.0 thousand US dollars to 4.0 million US dollars) increased most significantly in 2022. The largest decline in DR Congo's exports was demonstrated by two commodity groups — wheat processing by-products (-16.9% or -0.7 million US dollars) and other crops and their parts for perfumery and similar purposes (-21.1% or -3.7 million US dollars).
The main importers of agricultural products from DR Congo in 2022 included: India (23.4%), Belgium (14.6%), the Netherlands (8.0%), Uganda (7.1%) and Indonesia (6.1%). In total, the ten largest importers accounted for 79.4% of DR Congo's agricultural supplies.
Relative to 2021, France (+65.8% or +1.9 million US dollars) and India (+59.8% or +14.2 million US dollars) showed the most significant growth. DR Congo has increased exports of cocoa beans to India by 2.1 times (+16.0 million US dollars).
France increased coffee purchases by 2.6 times (+1.7 million US dollars). At the same time, DR Congo's exports to Indonesia decreased significantly (-40.0% or -6.6 million US dollars) and the USA (-30.0% or -2.8 million US dollars). Both countries reduced purchases of cocoa beans: Indonesia - by 38.9%, the USA — by 46.2%.
