Reducing Crop Losses and Carbon Footprints through Organic Farming in Bugorhe

©AGRIMOD: Farmers apply natural pesticides in an infested maize field during a practical training session in Bugorhe

In Bugorhe, South Kivu, maize farming is the backbone of household livelihoods, feeding families and paying school fees. Yet for many years, smallholder farmers have faced losses from rats and fall armyworms, worsened by erratic rainfall and rising temperatures. Women and youth, with limited access to inputs, are most affected, leaving households vulnerable to hunger and financial strain.

Without affordable and effective alternatives, many households turned to imported chemical pesticides-solutions that are costly, harmful to human health, damaging to soils and heavy on the environment. These inputs also increase the carbon footprint of maize production and deepen reliance on external supply chains.

Turning to local, natural solutions – a climate-smart approach
With support from the Agri-Business Facility for Africa’s Matching Grant Fund, AGRIMOD SARL supported farmers in Mulamba-Bugorhe, Kabare Territory, South Kivu Province to address this urgent challenge through a practical, field-based intervention. The objective was to equip smallholder farmers with affordable, locally sourced pest management solutions while reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. This activity forms part of AGRIMOD’s broader strategy to promote conservation agriculture and organic farming, contributing to reduced environmental impact and a lower carbon footprint in maize production.

Learning by doing in the field
The training took place directly in maize fields rather than in classrooms. Working closely with local farmer groups and community leaders, AGRIMOD’s technical team guided farmers through a joint analysis of the pest problem. Farmers learned to identify key pests, recognize early signs of infestation, and understand how climate variability has intensified pest pressure.

Participants then engaged in hands-on demonstrations to prepare organic pesticides using locally available materials. They learned how to measure, mix, ferment, and safely handle natural solutions that effectively protect crops while preserving soil fertility and environmental health.

Empowering women and youth
The activity directly benefited 98 smallholder farmers, including 52 women and 47 youth - groups most vulnerable to crop losses and limited access to agricultural inputs. Women farmers gained safe, low-cost alternatives to chemical pesticides, reducing health risks while safeguarding household food supplies. Young farmers acquired practical, climate-smart skills, strengthening agriculture as a viable and sustainable livelihood option.

By ensuring inclusive participation and shared decision-making, the initiative addressed long-standing gaps in access to technical knowledge and empowered women and youth as agents of change within their communities.

For Ms. Julie Kavira, a smallholder farmer from Mulamba Village, the impact was transformative:

“For many years, pests like rats and fall armyworms destroyed our maize, and chemical pesticides were too expensive and dangerous for our families. Through this activity, I learned how to prepare natural pesticides using materials we can find here in our community. I now feel confident that I can protect my field and secure food for my children without harming our health or the soil.”

Similarly, Mr. Bahati Safari from Kashenyi Village shared:

“This activity opened our eyes to new ways of fighting pests without chemicals. We practiced everything ourselves in the field, which gave us confidence. I am already applying these methods and sharing them with other farmers in Bugorhe.”

Lessons for the future – scaling what works
The experience in Bugorhe offered clear lessons. Hands-on, field-based learning proved far more effective than classroom theory. Using locally available materials made solutions affordable, sustainable, and easier for farmers to adopt over the long term. Early pest identification and timely action were key to reducing crop damage and protecting harvests.

Looking ahead, scaling this success will require repeating the approach in more villages and across multiple seasons, nurturing farmer champions, and providing continuous follow-up and support. By embracing natural pest control, farmers regained the ability to protect their crops, secure food, and care for the land.

This initiative is supported through Matching Grant Fund (MGF), as part of the Joint Action “Business Support Facility for Resilient Agricultural Value Chains”, co-funded by the European Union under the Samoa Agreement with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ.