African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6859

Full Length Research Paper

Competitiveness of smallholder legume production in South Kivu region, Democratic Republic of Congo

Fidele B. B
  • Fidele B. B
  • Department of Agribusiness Management and Trade, Kenyatta University, P. O Box 43844-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
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Eric K. B.
  • Eric K. B.
  • Department of Agribusiness Management and Trade, Kenyatta University, P. O Box 43844-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
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Njehia B. K.
  • Njehia B. K.
  • Department of Agribusiness Management and Trade, Kenyatta University, P. O Box 43844-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
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de Wolf J.
  • de Wolf J.
  • CIAT/TSBF N2Africa project, Monitoring and Evaluation Scientist, Kenya.
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Karani-Gichimu C.
  • Karani-Gichimu C.
  • Agribusiness Wing of Crop Sciences Department, Pwani University, P.O. Box 195-80108, Kilifi, Kenya.
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  •  Received: 09 October 2014
  •  Accepted: 03 June 2015
  •  Published: 25 June 2015

Abstract

This study investigated the returns to legumes (common bean and soybean) and other principal crops (cassava, sweet potato and maize) in South Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from a randomly selected sample of 291 farmers who had participated in N2Africa project in the four Eastern D. R. Congo territories: Kabare (103), Kalehe (52), Mwenga (24) and Walungu (112). Gross margin and return on capital analysis were calculated. The study found that common bean had the highest gross margin [985,708 FC ha-1 (909FC = 1USD as at June 2013)] and return on labour capital (2.1 FC) compared to other principal crop enterprises. From this study, it was evident that crop enterprises had varying returns on capital which was an indicator of the differences in the importance of these crops from one territory to another. Therefore, the study recommends that as much as legume production is being promoted, the government and NGOs should also emphasize the importance of farm enterprise diversification in the study area.

 

Key words: Competitiveness, farm enterprises, returns, N2Africa.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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