Women's agency and the future of farming: A regional comparison from the marshlands in the democratic Republic of Congo

While women's empowerment and the development of small businesses are central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, rural women's voices remain largely absent from decision-making forums, and their entrepreneurial ambitions are insufficiently supported. This study draws on survey data and in-depth interviews with 232 marshland farmers from two regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to examine women's participation in intrahousehold decision-making on crop selection, control over agricultural income, and entrepreneurial aspirations beyond farming. In Kabare (South Kivu) and Mulungwishi (Haut-Katanga), 64% of women make crop selection decisions jointly with their husbands, reflecting a broader pattern of spousal collaboration in agricultural planning. A similar trend is observed in the joint management of farm income, although only 19% of women retain sole control over revenue from crop sales. The findings reveal marked regional differences in women's willingness to remain engaged in farming, shaped by perceived socioeconomic, security, and environmental drivers. In Haut-Katanga, 66% of women reported that they would never quit farming, whereas in South Kivu, 65% expressed uncertainty about continuing agricultural activities, largely due to crop land degradation and persistent insecurity linked to armed conflicts. Across both study sites, in-depth interviews indicate strong aspirations among women to diversify into small businesses, particularly petty trade and tailoring. Overall, these findings contribute to a better understanding of the factors influencing women's disengagement from agriculture and underscore the importance of recognizing rural women's agency and entrepreneurial ambitions beyond family farming.