The mountainous Bushi agrosystem, particularly in the Kabare and Walungu territories of eastern Democratic republic of Congo (DRC), constitutes a major banana-producing region where the crop plays a pivotal role in food security and rural household. This study examined the sociodemographic characteristics of farmers and the key drivers influencing banana productivity across different agroecological contets. The study area was stratified into three agroecological zones (AEZ1, AEZ2 and AEZ3) based on biophysical conditions. Data were collected from 425 banana farms distributed across these zones. Results show that bananas cultivation is predominantly practiced under intercropping systems (87.47%), commonly associated with cassava, common beans, and maize. However, monocropping systems exhibited significantly higher yields with an average productivity of 24.672 ± 9.948 t/ha compared to 14.293 ± 8.948 t/ha under intercropping. Several sociodemographic and management factors were found to significantly influence banana productivity ( p < 0.05 ), including farmer age, membership in agricultural cooperatives, type of fertilizer used, source of labor, and main occupation. Higher productivity levels were associated with older farmers, cooperative membership, and the use of mineral fertilizers. In addition, farmers employing salaried labor and those whose primary occupation lies in the public sector achieved better yields, likely reflecting greater financial capacity and improved farm management practices. Regression analysis further confirmed the positive and significant effects of these variables on banana productivity (OR > 1, p < 0.05). Despite these opportunities, banana production in the region remains constrained by multiple factors, including biotic pressures (diseases, pests), abiotic stresses (strong winds, decline soil fertility), limited access to credit and improved planting materials, and inadequate agricultural tools and practices.
Timely plant disease forecasts are essential for effective fungicide use, yet standard weather-driven models treat crop canopies as spatially uniform and overlook within-field variability that can be captured by remote sensing. Using the sugar beet–Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) pathosystem, we test whether linking remotely sensed leaf area index (LAI) can be used to initialise a CLS negative‑prognosis model in a spatially explicit manner and thereby improve disease monitoring and warning. LAI was mapped from multispectral satellite (10 m), super-resolved satellite (1 m) and airborne (1 m) imagery on a regular grid across a field, converted to canopy-closure dates for each grid cell, and used to initialise a classic CLS negative-prognosis model. Unlike the classic CLS model, which produces a single, spatially averaged epidemic onset date for the area covered by the driving weather station, our approach produces a distribution of earliest estimated epidemic onset dates (EEEOs) across grid cells, reflecting spatial heterogeneity in canopy development and epidemic risk. EEEO was evaluated against ground-derived epidemic onset (EO) dates and represents the earliest date on which a CLS epidemic could occur once negative prognosis no longer applies. In non-inoculated areas, EO occurred 156.9 days after sowing (DAS), whereas EEEO occurred substantially earlier: 117.4 DAS for satellite, 114.0 DAS for super-resolved satellite, and 103.8 DAS for airborne imagery, with similar patterns in inoculated plots. Spatially explicit EEEO were earlier than those from the conventional field-average CLS model, indicating that accounting for within-field canopy heterogeneity can accelerate and localise disease warnings. This proof-of-concept framework captures sub-field variability missed by regional-scale prognosis and can guide more targeted scouting and fungicide use.
Amelioration of maternal nutrition is crucial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), that experiences political instability and malnutrition. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of nutrition-specific interventions on nutritional knowledge, dietary practices, and hemoglobin (Hb) status among lactating mothers in the Bukavu region, DRC. A randomized, controlled trial was conducted with 416 mother–infant pairs from 3–6 to 6–9 months postpartum. The mothers were classified according to their mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) and subsequently assigned to the following intervention and control groups by block randomization: low MUAC–nutrition education, low MUAC–lipid-based nutrient supplements, low MUAC–control; normal MUAC–control; high MUAC–nutrition education, high MUAC–control. The pre- and post-intervention assessments included questionnaires on nutritional knowledge and practice to calculate scores (range 0–1); 24 h dietary recalls to calculate the Dietary Diversity Score (DDS, range 0–10); and measurement of maternal Hb. Changes of these parameters from pre- to post-intervention were analyzed by linear mixed models. The change of total knowledge score from pre- to post-intervention was significantly positively affected by reception of nutrition education with a model-based mean difference of 0.161 between mothers with nutrition education compared to those without (p = 0.000). The change in DDS was not affected, but there was a positive impact of nutrition education on the modification of complementary feeding practices (OR 2.930, p = 0.030). Change in maternal Hb was not different between the intervention and control groups with higher increases among mothers with anemia compared to all mothers. Nutrition education can positively influence knowledge and potentially complementary feeding, while further measures may be required for beneficial effects on anemia. The study was registered prospectively at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS; DRKS-ID DRKS00012842) on November 27, 2017.
Dairy cattle production remains a low-contributing subsector in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since the 1990s, several interventions, including the introduction of artificial insemination (AI) as a rapid genetic improvement strategy, have been implemented to enhance productivity; however, cattle productivity in South Kivu and Tanganyika provinces remains low. This study assessed the current status of these interventions and examined farmers’ potential to adopt genetic improvement innovations, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2 and the African Union Agenda 2063. Data were collected from 369 dairy cattle farmers in selected areas of South Kivu and Tanganyika through a cross-sectional survey, capturing information on socio-economic characteristics, awareness of genetic improvement, knowledge and utilization of artificial insemination (AI), and adoption status of related technologies. Results revealed low adoption rates, with 29% of farmers using general genetic improvement practices and 25% adopting AI, constrained mainly by limited availability of AI services, and financial barriers. While awareness of AI in South Kivu was significantly higher (73.9%) compared to Tanganyika (34.4%), adoption rates were comparable in both provinces, suggesting awareness alone does not drive adoption. Farmers in South Kivu and Tanganyika expressed largely similar perceptions of cattle breeds. Holstein-Friesian and Brown Swiss were valued for high milk production, good body conformation, and high market value, while Ankole cattle were preferred for their affordability, adaptability, disease resistance, and good temperament. However, Ankole cattle were also perceived as having low milk yield and market value, whereas exotic breeds were commonly viewed as disease-prone and demanding in terms of breeding and management. Enhanced availability and accessibility of artificial insemination services, supported by targeted financial mechanisms and farmer capacity building, are critical to increasing the adoption of modern livestock production practices. Such interventions would contribute directly to improved rural livelihoods and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Policy priorities should include the establishment of functional AI centers, training and deployment of local veterinarians and technicians, and the provision of financial incentives to encourage uptake of improved breeding technologies. Integrating farmer education and awareness into agricultural policy frameworks is essential for addressing knowledge gaps that limit adoption. Moreover, expanded use of improved breeds must be accompanied by strengthened veterinary services and effective vaccination programs to reduce health risks and ensure long-term sustainability.
Background Headache disorders are among the leading neurological causes of years lived with disability globally. (1,2) Population-based epidemiological data on headache in school-age adolescents are scarce across sub-Saharan Africa (3) and virtually absent from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). (4) This study aimed to estimate the 6-month prevalence, clinical phenotype, and sex-related differences in non-febrile acute headache among secondary school students in Bukavu, eastern DRC. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2019 in ten secondary schools selected by systematic random sampling from Pool 4 of the Bukavu provincial EPSP sub-division. Using multi-stage proportional sampling, 400 students aged 12–18 years were enrolled. A structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire informed by ICHD-3 criteria (11) collected data on headache characteristics, associated symptoms, precipitating and relieving factors, healthcare utilisation, and academic impact. Binary logistic regression estimated unadjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Of 400 students, 270 (67.5%; 95% CI 62.9–72.1%) reported at least one non-febrile headache episode in the preceding six months; females accounted for 57.0% of cases. Possible or probable migraine was the most prevalent headache subtype (47.0%), followed by episodic tension-type headache (36.7%). Female sex was significantly associated with daily headache frequency (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.36–4.46; p = 0.003), visual disturbances (OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.07–3.02; p = 0.018), and nausea or vomiting (OR 2.15; 95% CI 1.21–3.85; p = 0.005). Headaches were associated with perceived academic underperformance in 63.7% of affected students; 21.5% missed at least one school day per month. Only 7.0% were receiving prophylactic pharmacotherapy. Conclusion Non-febrile headache affects approximately two in three secondary school students in Bukavu and is associated with substantial academic disruption and an unmet need for preventive care. Comparable epidemiological data from the DRC remain scarce; these 2019 pre-pandemic data are discussed as baseline evidence, with the study's temporal limitations addressed below. Headache disorders may represent an overlooked contributor to impaired educational performance in this low-resource setting. School-based screening and primary care training in headache management are warranted.
