Challenges Faced by (Quasi-) Landless Villagers in the Mountainous Region of Kivu, DRC

The living conditions of small-scale farmers in the South Kivu uplands, DRC, were evaluated. A detailed questionnaire was sent out randomly in two chiefdoms, with a sample of 290 households in 10 administrative Divisions. In addition, 120 households were interviewed in focus groups. The results show that the majority of households earn their living from agriculture. The poorest are day laborers (9%). The sale of alcoholic beverages, sweets or water, handicrafts, and livestock breeding represent secondary sources of income (7%), with the remainder represented by street vendors and artisanal miners. The monthly income is often less than $50 (43%) or between $50 - 100 (37%) and rarely beyond $200 (3%). Households with less than 2 meals have very low monthly incomes ( 14, twice as many as in households with fewer than 9 people.