DR Congo: Kaungula Farmer Field School Reaps its First Harvest of Trust

In the small village of Kaungula, in Kasai province, nestled in the heart of Nyanga’s savannah, a group of farmers came together around a shared dream to improve their farming practices and feed their families with dignity. This dream took shape through the creation of Farmer Field Schools (FFS), supported by the GAINS Tuya Kumpala program funded by the Department of States.

The members’ energy is fueled by their improved economic well-being and a strong determination never to return to the hardships of previous years.

In the past, the FFS members farmed their land using ancestral methods. 

“We used to burn the bush before planting, and crops were sown randomly, without rows or spacing. Yields were low, soils were depleted, and hopes often dashed,” recalls Sacard KISENGE, the group’s secretary. 

As early as October 2024, the Kaungula Farmer Field School began working collectively in the fields, hoping for change the following year.

The GAINS program brought more than just support. It provided new farming tools, improved cassava and cowpea seeds, and, most importantly, valuable training in resilient agriculture and biopesticide production. The variety they planted, called LUMONU, is a new INERA-developed strain adapted to local agroecological conditions. It offers high yields and is biofortified with beta-carotene, a vital precursor to vitamin A. 

For the first time, FFS members learned to prepare the soil without burning, to plant in rows, to respect spacing, and to observe the land as a partner. The experimental plot, modest in size at just 2 ares, became the stage for a quiet revolution.

On harvest day, FFS members gathered at dawn, hoes in hand, amid laughter and encouragement. Every cassava root pulled from the soil was a victory, a living testament to their learning. It was a picture of collective success and positive transformation. 

“Over 400 kg of fresh roots from this tiny plot is an achievement never before seen in our village of Kaungula,” exclaimed Sacard Kisenge.

This first harvest marks the end of dependence on outdated practices and the beginning of sustainable agriculture. With a yield of 20 tons per hectare, far surpassing the now-unproductive traditional varieties, members can feed their children, sell part of the crop at market, and even save to fund future projects and purchase new seeds.

Following this successful first harvest, FFS members will now benefit from cassava cuttings to replant in their own fields, marking the start of sustainable agricultural multiplication.

Since 2024, GAINS has launched seed distribution and farming tool kits to 55 FFS in the health zones of Kitangua and Nyanga. The goal is to combat underproduction by promoting proper agricultural techniques and selecting high-yield seed varieties.

Graduating to Sustainable Agriculture, Income, Nutrition and Food Security (GAINS), implemented by Mercy Corps and World Vision known locally as Tuya kumpala, supports US Government’s strategic objectives for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by working with households, community leaders, and the government of DRC to improve food and nutrition security and economic well-being of vulnerable households in Kasai.