The Congolese government has stepped up intervention in Haut-Katanga’s corn market, launching new measures aimed at easing pressure on food prices and supporting domestic production.
On May 6, 2026, the Economic Regulation Fund (FOREC) signed a memorandum of understanding with producers grouped under the Congo Farmers Consortium (AGRICO), according to local media reports.
The agreement includes a three-month subsidy program for corn flour designed to curb rising prices and improve household access to the staple food. Authorities are expected to review the mechanism at the end of the period before deciding whether to extend it.
The initiative marks FOREC’s return as an active market stabilizer. Jean-Paul Nemoyata, the institution’s executive secretary, said the measure was intended to support provincial authorities as households face mounting cost-of-living pressures.
Beyond the short-term response, the program also includes longer-term measures aimed at boosting local production and reducing dependence on imports. Authorities have not disclosed the cost of the intervention.
The move comes as the region’s corn market faces severe strain. In Lubumbashi, the price of a 25-kilogram bag of corn flour rose from 35,000 to 60,000 Congolese francs in March 2026, an increase of more than 70% within a few weeks.
The volatility reflects Katanga’s heavy reliance on imports. According to the Central Bank of Congo, nearly 70% of corn demand in the provinces of Haut-Katanga, Lualaba and Tanganyika was still covered by imports in 2024.
To help meet demand, traders established in 2025 a logistics network capable of supplying around 150,000 metric tons of corn annually, mainly from neighboring countries such as Zambia.
Agricultural subsidies are not new in Haut-Katanga. In recent years, provincial authorities have implemented several producer support programs, including seed and input distribution as well as aid for local farmers.
However, FOREC’s involvement marks a broader policy shift, with the government now intervening directly in the market to stabilize prices rather than focusing solely on production support.
Ronsard Luabeya
