Nestled in the vibrant city of Bukavu, surrounded by the breathtaking Lake Kivu and lush landscapes, I grew up witnessing both the beauty and challenges of our environment. Agriculture was the backbone of our community, a source of sustenance and resilience.
Charles Baraka Nteranya, Co-founder of Kilimo Green Farm, delivering a speech on sustainable agriculture and youth innovation at the Youth Connekt Africa Summit’24 in Kigali, @UNV, 2024. Photo credit: United Nations Volunteers.
Yet, I also saw the devastating impacts of climate change—erratic rainfall, soil degradation, and declining harvests. These challenges fueled my determination to be part of the solution.
This vision took shape with the founding of Kilimo Green Farm, an agribusiness and social enterprise dedicated to sustainable agriculture, food security, and community empowerment.
What began as a simple initiative to help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change has grown into a movement, reaching marginalized communities, displaced people, and youth struggling with professional integration in conflict-affected regions of eastern DRC.
In areas near protected reserves like Kahuzi-Biega and Virunga National Parks, communities face limited access to resources. With few alternatives, many turn to poaching, illegal mining, or armed groups for survival.
Kilimo Green Farm seeks to change that narrative. By introducing sustainable agriculture as a viable livelihood, we provide these vulnerable groups with opportunities to build a future rooted in the soil rather than in conflict.
Through climate-smart training programs, we teach sustainable techniques such as agroforestry, organic farming, crop diversification, and soil and water management. These methods improve yields while reducing pressure on protected ecosystems, offering an alternative to environmental destruction.
Our work extends to war-displaced communities, providing them with the knowledge and tools to cultivate food and ensure lasting food security. Young people are at the heart of our mission. In a region where armed groups lure marginalized youth with false promises, we provide a different path—one of entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and environmental stewardship.
One of our most impactful projects has been in the mountainous wetlands of Kabare, where climate change has severely affected sorghum cultivation, a staple food, especially for children under five. Here, we’ve introduced innovative techniques to restore soil fertility, improve water management, and enhance resilience against extreme weather. Seeing barren fields turn into thriving farmland has been one of the most rewarding moments of my journey.
But Kilimo Green Farm is more than a project, it’s a movement for change. By expanding our reach, forging new partnerships, and training more farmers, we are working to ensure that agriculture becomes a tool for peace, stability, and prosperity.
Lessons Learned: This journey has taught me that transformation begins with a single seed—whether planted in the soil or in the hearts of those who dare to dream. As a young African entrepreneur, I am committed to proving that sustainable agriculture is not just a solution to climate change but also a pathway to hope, dignity, and resilience for vulnerable communities.
