Sustainable agriculture and urban market gardening

We train beneficiaries to produce on small plots, both in and out of season.

Why this area of work

In the city as well as on the outskirts, available land is limited and access to water is irregular. When managed well, however, market gardening on small plots allows families to feed themselves and sell the surplus, provided that the right crops are chosen and soil fertility is preserved.

Our work began with market gardening: in 2019, we formed the first groups of women market gardeners in the city of Beni.

Our approach

Learn. Choosing short-cycle crops, preparing beds, composting and organic fertilization, and water-efficient management: techniques are demonstrated on the plot and then practiced by the beneficiaries.

Act. The groups cultivate their own plots, including terraces along the fish ponds, where water is available year-round. The cropping calendar is designed to produce both in-season and off-season, when prices are most favorable.

Succeed. Collective marketing makes it possible to sell larger volumes, negotiate better, and build customer loyalty. A portion of the harvest can also be processed to be stored longer.

Who this program is for

For women and young people in urban and peri-urban neighborhoods of Beni and Lubero, organized into groups, who have a small plot of arable land or can obtain one collectively.

What changes

• A more varied and consistent diet for families.
• Income generated from the sale of surplus, including off-season.
• Soils that maintain their fertility from one season to the next, without expensive inputs.
• Groups capable of selling together and negotiating their prices.

Cultivating today, building tomorrow.

Inua Développement

This area works hand in hand with community fish farming and agrifood processing, as part of the project Food security and resilience.