ABSTRACT
Introduced in the DRC since 1934, the development results of
the sector remain visible in a bullish direction. Since 2008, ESCO-KIVU is the
only governor of the sector before others enter the sector from 2015 on the
territory of Beni until today. In 2020, the arrival of Virunga Origins
Chocolate has amply responded to the challenges of the transformation link. The
birth of the «chocolate» value chain in the industry suddenly became
evident. It was non-existent before; currently to which is added the value
chain "raw cocoa". This shows that currently the sector already has two value
chains.
The installation of Virunga Origins Chocolate has given a new
restructuring and a new functioning of the sector. The actors of this sector
remain in communion in the activities through purchase contracts between
negotiator and processor.
Cocoa production in the territory of Beni has increased
considerably over time. This is directly linked to the area sown, the number of
planters and the yield per ha. This validates our model according to which the
area, the yield and the number of planters explain better the cocoa production
in the Beni zone than the price. It is clear that in the region of Beni, the
"cocoa" sector is developing like a shooting star. It is imperative to believe
that this sector waits for peace to flourish in view of the negative impact of
socio-political instability on these explanatory factors of production.
Consequently, value chains are conditioned by the existence of
a leading firm but also, its expansion is justified by the birth of a
processing unit, production (explained by area, yield, price and number of
cocoa farmers as predicted by our analysis of the econometric model) and
secures outlets. In addition, the growing insecurity linked to the political
crisis in the territory of Beni and the non-implementation of industrial
agricultural policies to further develop the sector constitute the most
dazzling constraints for the actors of the sector. They do not create a good
climate for foreign investors. On the other hand, the «cocoa» sector
in the Beni zone presents great opportunities and advantages for its strong
revitalization.
In the Beni zone, however, cocoa cultivation constitutes a
real danger on the forest lands. Seen, cocoa farmers acquire land through
leasing and customary allocation. Which land management offers the freedom of
exercise without constraint to the operators who pay the royalties. The
environmental danger arises there from the fact that farmers resort to
slash-and-burn clearing with the use of phytosanitary products as a response to
the problems of parasitic diseases and insect pests attacking the cocoa tree.
According to them, the peasants are
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abandoning the old cocoa farms for a new clearing in order to
increase and maintain a large production. Despite the weak agroforestry
practice, the development of the sector constitutes an environmental danger.
In addition, the forestry and agricultural codes are more
oriented towards large
forestry and agricultural operations. Moreover, the legislation
in forestry and agriculture does not remain in conflict with itself as with
that of the land and mining sector. This opens the door to significant
institutional reframing in order to better reorient agricultural, land, mining
and forestry activities and the establishment of a program based on the REDD +
type deforestation-free cocoa initiative under a public-private partnership
governed by an enactment of specific forest laws, legal texts in cohesion with
crossroads sectors such as agriculture, forestry, mining and land.
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