Border Closures Send Sorghum Prices Plunging, Farmers Face Heavy Losses

Rutshuru, North Kivu, July 9, 2026 - Sorghum producers in the Jomba area of Rutshuru Territory are facing growing economic difficulties as the price of their harvest drops sharply following the disruption of small-scale cross-border trade with Uganda and Rwanda. Farmers attribute the decline to border closures introduced as part of measures linked to the Ebola virus disease outbreak, which have significantly reduced the movement of traders who traditionally purchase local agricultural products. Currently, a measure of sorghum weighing approximately 1.5 kilograms sells for between 2,000 and 2,500 Ugandan shillings, compared with 3,000 Ugandan shillings before the restrictions. Despite a good harvest this season, producers say they are struggling to find buyers and are being forced to sell at prices that do not cover their production costs. In Tshengerero, farmer Vianney Rwakabuba Rumaka explained that the main challenge is not production but the lack of access to markets. According to him, traders from neighboring countries are no longer crossing the border, leaving farmers with limited opportunities to sell their crops. He warned that the price collapse is directly affecting the income of farming households, reducing their ability to meet basic needs and reinvest in agricultural activities. Farmers say the decline represents a major loss compared with previous years, when sorghum sales provided enough income to purchase essential goods. They now fear that an otherwise successful agricultural season could become a financial setback for many rural families. Producers in Jomba are calling on local and national authorities to take urgent measures to restore trade flows, support market access, or create alternative commercial opportunities to prevent further losses. The situation highlights the economic vulnerability of communities in eastern DRC, where many rural households depend on cross-border trade networks to sell agricultural products and sustain their livelihoods.