Revue Marocaine des Sciences Agronomiques et Vétérinaires (Mar 2019)
Analysis of the socioeconomic and food situation of households in North and South Ubangi provinces in the DRC
Abstract
The general objective of this study is to analyze the socioeconomic and food situation of resident households in the northern provinces (Mobayi - Mbongo territory) and South - Ubangi (Gemena and Libenge territories) on a sample of 215 household heads. Primary data were collected through the quantitative survey (individual interview). The use of secondary data has also proved indispensable. The results of the survey indicate that 90.2% of the surveyed households practice agriculture and 79.1% are engaged in livestock farming. The results of the study show that 91.8% of respondents are owners of the land they farm and that the average agricultural area planted in the whole area is 0.60 ha. Overall, the results of the survey indicate that the seeds used by the surveyed households come mainly from purchases (57.2% of cases). The food consumption score shows that 16% of households in the zone have a poor food consumption (SCA <28), therefore food insecurity and 23% have a limited food consumption (SCA between 28.5 - 42), at risk food insecurity. The research undertaken reveals that 62% of respondents use spring water for drinking. The obsolescence of agricultural equipment, the poor quality of seeds used, the infertility of the soil, the presence of crop pests and the irregular rains due to climate change are the main constraints to agricultural production. The main constraints for the livestock sector are: epidemics, theft and accidents. The impassability of the roads, administrative and police harassment and the deterioration of the products due to the heat, the water and by the attacks of the insects constitute the major constraints to the marketing. The support of households in agricultural inputs, the structuring and the technical supervision of the households, the rehabilitation of the roads, the eradication by the public power of the various forms of harassment are the few recommendations which can contribute to improve the socioeconomic and food situation of the households in the study area.
