Monsieur NYATEMU ZENDA ZA BEGANI Arthur-Josue, Vient d’être proclamé PhD après avoir soutenu sa thèse de doctorat à  NKUMBA UNIVERSITY de l’Ouganda sur  “INTENSIVE SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: A CASE OF SMALL-HOLDER FARMERS IN SOUTH KIVU PROVINCE”.

The study assessed the effect of intensive subsistence agriculture on Sustainable Livelihood of smallholder farmers in South Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Guided by the agricultural intensification theory, the objectives of the study included examining the effects of Subsistence Agriculture practiced on smallholder farmers’ socioeconomic status; analysing the effects of smallholder farmers’ socioeconomic status on Sustainable Livelihood; and seeking to establish the relationship between the intensive subsistence agriculture practiced and the socio-economic status of smallholder farmers in terms of sustainable livelihood. The study used a cross-sectional and case study design and employed a mixed-methods approach involving the integration of quantitative and qualitative data using a sample size of 389 smallholder farmers. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire, key-informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Data were analysed quantitatively using statistical analysis and qualitatively using thematic analysis. For the objective one, the study revealed that education level of household head (β = 0.205, p = 0.001); and income status (β = .371, p < 0.001) are statistically significant (p-value less than 0.05 and 0.000). The interpretation is that subsistence agriculture practiced affects negatively socioeconomic status, mainly Education level of both male and female and income status. The second objective highlighted the major factors hindering smallholder farmers’ sustainable livelihood.  The results revealed that the education level of wife (β = .085, p = 0.016) and household income status (β = .371, p < 0.001) are statistically significant (p-value less than 0.05 and 0.000). The interpretation is that education level of wife and household income status slow down livelihood sustainability among farmers.

For the third objective, the results revealed that among subsistence agricultural practiced in the study area, only intensive subsistence agriculture is statistically significant (β = 0.265, p < 0.001) and the interpretation is that sustainable livelihoods are highest when Intensive subsistence agriculture is integrated with improved incomes of the farmers compared to when integrated with the education levels of the household heads.  To avoid vicious cycle of poverty and natural resources degradation in South Kivu, the Provincial and National Government should put in place policies related to education system based on local realities; improvement of agricultural extension service provider and including justice distributive and capabilities in agricultural intensification projects and programme, following the SASLEC model.