Agricultural Sector Research, The Role Of Economic Development In The Democratic Republic Of The Congo

This thesis examines the Agricultural Sector in D.R.CONGO as an Agent in Economic Development and example Analysis of Coffee. The study aims at verifying the role of agriculture and see in which measure agriculture and coffee in particular, contribution to economy development of D.R.CONGO,since agriculture is seen as the backbone and plays a crucial role in the national economy as it provides the main source of food, income and employment to the rural population and fundamental to achieving food security, poverty alleviation and overall sustainable development, through its large share of contribution to GDP and employment. The research was specifically supported by data collected from various sources: the statistical database of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAOSTAT), World Development Indicators of the World Bank, AQUASTAT, Central Bank of D.R.Congo, internet research, library research and Ministry of Agriculture of D.R.CONGO by National Office of Coffee (O.N.C.).Hypothesis of this research is to verify if Agricultural Sector well managed can have an important impact on the national economy and its return can cover all other sectors of the economy. Coffee is one of the industrial crops for export in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is vital in the Congolese economy, as a major source of foreign exchange, trade, source of income and revenue, through employment for the rural poor by labor (harvesting, weed, fertilizer, mulching), coffee export is the foundation of farmer's production, allowing them to pay the school of them children and procure all things their need. Government policy for agriculture in general is to make the nation self sufficient in food through increasing production of all crops and ensure as dependable food security system for all, ensure a profitable and sustainable agricultural production system and raise the purchasing power by increasing real income. A Domestic Resource Cost (D.R.C) model was used in this study to see if coffee is competitive at international market. The findings indicate that coffee has competitive advantage at international market. The years indicate competitiveness is 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005 whereas 2001 and 2002 were not competitive due to incidence of war and price of coffee dropped.