Food Security: Congo Drives Agricultural Import Substitution

Accueil / World Business / Facts and figures / Food Security: Congo Drives Agricultural Import Substitution

Food Security: Congo Drives Agricultural Import Substitution

Congo Drives Agricultural Import Substitution

18 Aug 2026 15:49

I n the Republic of Congo, food imports swallow over FCFA 500 billion annually according to a 2022 official report, by the country’s Council of Ministers. A massive financial drain that threatens national economic stability. To break this costly reliance, the government is leveraging agricultural deve lopment as a strategic pillar to diversify away from oil depen dence and cut food imports by 40% under its 2022–2026 National Development Plan. At the heart of this national push is the second edition of the Great Agricultural Fair of Congo (GFAC). Taking place this year from August 5th to 20th, in Bambou-Mingali, under the theme «Feeding the Nation to Honour the Fatherland,» the gathering goes far beyond a simple exhibition. The fair serves as a critical policy lever to accelerate technology trans fer, attract private agribusiness investment, and connect rural smallholders directly to com mercial markets. Data from the Association for Strengthe ning Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa as of 2024 reveal that, despite possessing about 10 million hectares of fertile arable land and abundant rainfall, Congo currently cultivates less than 10%. The fair therefore aims to directly target the structural bottlenecks holding back this potential such as weak value chains, high post-har vest losses, and limited access to finance. By showcasing high-po tential sectors like cas sava, maize, poultry, and aquaculture, the exhibition aims to devise strategies to replace costly imports with do mestic produce. For this 2026 edition, GFAC is organized around 16 pavilions and 5 thematic hubs, dedicated notably to regional produce, live...