Overview
The Republic of the Congo’s agricultural sector is limited and cannot satisfy domestic demand. The country relies heavily on food imports, which account for about 80 percent of domestic food consumption. Imported foodstuffs come mainly from Cameroun, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, and the United States. France is the largest source of the Republic of the Congo’s agricultural imports.
Agriculture Market Size
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 estimated | |
| Total Local Production | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| Total Exports | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total Imports | 85 | 88 | 85 | 95 |
| Imports from the US | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total Market Size | 87.8 | 91.1 | 91.8 | 99.2 |
| Exchange Rates |
(Total market size = (total local production + imports) - exports)
Units: $ millions
Source: FAO
Leading Sub-Sectors
Corn grows well in the Republic of the Congo and has potential as a human food source, as well as to support poultry and livestock production. Mechanized farming is a promising area for investment, as land, labor, and demand are all readily available.
Opportunities
Opportunities exist for exporting food products to the Republic of the Congo, as well as setting up operations in the Republic of the Congo for the production and/or processing of food.
Approximately 40 percent of the population is engaged in subsistence agricultural production, which contributes just four percent of the Republic of the Congo’s gross domestic product. Only a small percentage of arable land is currently under cultivation – less than four percent according to a recent estimate. Land under cultivation has not increased appreciably in recent years.
Resources
International Partnership for Human Development (IPHD)