Seeing Change in Bugharama

 Kinane is a young farmer in Bugharama, 

Democratic Republic of Congo

Insecurity is a major concern throughout Eastern DRC as militia groups continue to raid villages and take hostages for ransom. Kinane lost his parents during such a raid committed by a rebel militia group four years ago in Bugharama. 

After the death of his parents, Kinane had to leave school in order to take care of his five younger brothers. His only source of income was their traditional farm that grew cassava, beans and bananas, but as farm yields started to decrease through plant diseases like the mosaic virus that attacks cassava and a pervasive bacteria that killed his banana plants, it became difficult for him to meet the needs of his family. 

Faced with dying crops, Kinane was desperate to find a way to provide shelter, food, education and health care for his younger brothers.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Central Africa, you will no doubt discover that banana (and in particular the starchy plantain variety) is the daily staple food for families living within the mountainous interior. The outbreak of BXW (Banana Xanthomonas Wilt) has been devastating for communities like Bugharama and for farmers like Kinane. 

BXW is a bacteria that infects the soil and every part of the banana plant from the roots to the fruit. It first appeared in the 1960s in Ethiopia, but reemerged in Uganda in 2001. Most recently the bacteria has swept into Central Africa wiping out banana production where ever it goes. BXW has brought devastation to banana farmers in parts of Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The bacteria can be spread through infected tools like pangas (machetes), banana buds, and other contaminated plant material. 

A banana plant infected with BXW

In the community of Bugharama, Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) and our local partner the Central African Baptist Churches (CBCA) are helping to improve food security and overcome the impact of BXW through better farm management. Kinane is one of ninety-five farmers in a CBM/CBCA food security project in this area. 

Together with his neighbours, he is receiving training, weekly mentorship, disease resistant seed, tree seedlings and support in running five demonstration farms to help other farmers in their community. In this year alone, over 4500 trees have been planted. Kinane and his farming association members are now using techniques that improve soil fertility. But perhaps the biggest impact has been found in the improved management of BXW and the replanting of healthy banana farms.

Kinane and members of the Mapendo Farmers Association

Since Kinane joined the Mapendo association in Bugharama, he has been following the conservation agriculture training on modern farming techniques and disease management provided by the CBM/CBCA food security project. 

He was particularly interested in the introduction of vegetables into his farm and this year, he planted tomatoes, onions and amaranths on his 25 m x 20 m field. After the sale of his first harvest, he earned a profit of $215 US dollars. Kinane used this income to  pay school fees for his brothers and to buy a goat for their farm.

“I never collected so much money at one single sale,” laughed  Kinane. "I will encourage my brothers to help me and increase the size of the field. With this initiative, I even see the hope of getting married in the next couple of years." 

Kinane and is BXW-free banana plants

This project has brought vital changes in the Bugharama community. 

"With the new technology they have learnt during the training, the promotion of gardening and the distribution of improved cassava cutting and banana seedlings, people increase their food production and their income." shared Polisi Kivava of the CBCA. "In this way, the project is contributing to reduce poverty in the area."

Please join us in praying for families like Kinane's and for the important work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We are thankful for this and the constellation of other projects that we as Canadian Baptists have the privilege of participating in with our sisters and brothers living in Central Africa. You can learn more about the work of Canadian Baptist Ministries in DRC, throughout Africa and around the world by visiting our website.