RD Congo

In 1890 the Belgian Gallain introduced the Coffea canephora congolensis crop in Congo, after careful studies and analysis in a Brussels’ nursery. First plantations are grown in the south-central territory of Congo and they were extremely productive and resistant to rust. Arabica was later introduced in Congo and it was cultivated near Kivu lake, on the border with Uganda and Rwanda, at around 1500 metres altitude.

The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly called Zaire) is primarily founded on agriculture, which feeds 2/3 of local population, as is the case in many other countries of Central Africa. Anyway Congo’s major limitations are the lack of adequate structures for inland transportation and the constant socio-political issues, which hinder the development of forward-looking trade policies.

Coffee is the most important agricultural product in Congo and the third largest export after copper and oil.