Kinshasa, January 12th, 2026 (CPA). – Chilli pepper farming has been presented on Monday in Kinshasa as a profitable industry and a real opportunity for young agricultural entrepreneurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on the side-lines of a training course on agriculture organised at the Maison de l’Entrepreneuriat (the House of the Entrepreneurship). ‘Today, the chilli cultivation offers real opportunities for young agricultural entrepreneurs in DRC. All crops contribute to food security, but the chilli industry stands out for its high demand on the domestic market and its potential profitability for farmers,’ has declared Vertueuse Matendele, initiator of agricultural training courses and a key player in the agri-food sector. According to her, this sector requires relatively few resources in the beginning, making it accessible to young people who want to get started in agriculture. ‘It can also promote job creation by mobilising local labour for planting, maintenance, harvesting and marketing,’ she has added.
Call for young people to get involved in agriculture
Ms Matendele has also lamented the low level of involvement of young people in the agricultural sector. « In agriculture, there are many older people and few young people. That is why I invite young people to get trained and get involved in this noble and promising profession. Come and work together, let’s set up cooperatives that will enable everyone to progress through knowledge sharing and support from trainers. If we really want to save our country from hunger, this is the way to do it, » she has urged. She has explained that the development of the chilli pepper sector can contribute to the creation of sustainable jobs and the strengthening of food security in DRC. She has encouraged young people to organise themselves into agricultural cooperatives in order to pool their efforts, improve productivity and facilitate access to markets. The training initiator has finally emphasised on the role of agriculture as a lever for youth entrepreneurship. ‘Investing in promising sectors such as the chilli pepper sector is a credible way to combat youth unemployment and strengthen food security in the Democratic Republic of Congo,’ she has concluded. ACP/