Subsistence Agriculture and its Effect on Smallholder Farmers’ Socioeconomic Status in South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo

Author(s): Nyatemu Zenda Za Begani Arthur-Josué, Orach-Meza Faustino, Mbahinzireki Godfrey

The aim of the paper was to investigate the effects of subsistence agriculture on smallholder farmer’s socio-economic status in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The study was conducted in the South Kivu province’s rural area by means of a self-administered questionnaire survey. A sample of 389 households was drawn from the research area which was chosen owing to the diversification with regard to geographical position. The findings revealed that subsistence agriculture in South Kivu province affect negatively the education level of household head (β = 0.205, p = 0.001), education level of wife (β = 0.109, p = 0.041) and the income status within the households of smallholder farmers (β= 0.280, p < 0.000). The results from the study highlighted the need for the government of DRC to adapt education policies on the local realities and to improve agricultural extension services in rural areas.