Typology of smallholder’s pig production systems in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo: Challenges and opportunities

Pig farming plays an important role in farmers’ livelihoods in many tropical countries. It contributes to food security of the poorest as well as the development of rural economy through multiplier effects. In the South Kivu province, pig farms are almost exclusively owned by smallholders. A few studies have attempted to describe thoroughly pig farming systems in this province. This study was undertaken to characterise pig production systems, in order to better understand their current situation, namely constraints they face and opportunities they offer. Investigation was conducted based on a structured survey questionnaire and participatory interviews with the owners of 989 farms in South-Kivu. Collected data was analysed using Multiple Correspondence Analysis and clustering techniques. Results showed that there are two types of smallholder pig farms differing mainly in the type of husbandry and feeding management. One category includes farms that raise pigs in free-range system consuming forages and scavenge feed (heaps picked-up from garbage and trash on their ways), which are sometimes, combined with crop residues and kitchen leftovers. The second category includes improved pig farms raising tethered pigs or in lairage where feed is mostly based on forages combined with kitchen leftovers, crop residues and concentrate feed. Nevertheless, all these different farm types share many common characteristics, including having pigs of local breeds, small herd sizes, absence of breeding boars and absence of adequate prophylactic measures. It emerged that female farmers together with experienced farmers mainly own pig farms with better characteristics (breed type, management practices, litter size, etc.). Hence, the involvement of women in pig farming can offer better prospects for the improvement of this sector. In addition, access to agricultural credit can also be an alternative to foster investment in livestock in South Kivu. All this can only lead to better results though improved local market access to smallholder producers

Fire risk assessment, spatiotemporal clustering and hotspot analysis in the Luki biosphere reserve region, western DR Congo

This paper analyzes active fires from 2001 to 2019 in and around the Luki Biosphere Reserve, western DR Congo to assess fire risks. In this study, we used descriptive statistics to assess fire events, Getis-Ord G hotspot analysis to define the spatial patterns presented by the fire events. Diagnostics for spatiotemporal clustering of fires location and space-time interaction were assessed the spatiotemporal K function. MODIS data from 2001 to 2019 revealed 4602 fires events and 150,132 ha burned, corresponding to 42.6% of the study area. The results of this study show that the peak of fires was recorded in 2013 and fires are mostly recorded every year during the dry season from June to September. They occurred mostly between Noon and 01:00 PM local time. Fires that occurred in the region had low radiative power with the mean value of 23.5 Mega Watts. The Hotspot region where fires take place is located in the South-Eastern part of the studied area exhibiting a significant spatiotemporal clustering (p value = 0.012). Fires are mainly of 2 origins: annual savannah clearing and agriculture fires. The results of this research will help decision making with proactive preventive measures over time and space