This study aimed to examine the factors driving the adoption of improved cassava seeds and fertilizers among smallholder farmers in South Kivu and Tanganyika provinces, Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), using data from 1317 farming households. Data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis by classifying farmers based on their cassava agricultural practices while capturing their preferences, attitudes, and socioeconomic characteristics. Logistic regression was then applied to evaluate the adoption of improved cassava seeds and fertilizers across different farmer-type groups. Therefore, farmers were classified into five distinct groups in both provinces. In general, for cassava-improved seed, farming experience increases its adoption by 15.1% per year in Cluster 5. At the same time, primary education boosts adoption in Cluster 1 by 17.4%, and university education raises it by 20.1% in Cluster 5. Larger land areas significantly enhance adoption by 46.9% in Cluster 4 and 79.6% in Cluster 1, reflecting the benefits of larger farms. Livestock ownership raises adoption by 26.8% in Cluster 1, highlighting the value of assets in agricultural investment. Agriculture training and income are highly effective, improving adoption by 18.2% in Cluster 5 and 8% overall. Specifically, in South Kivu, gender influences fertilizer adoption by 18.0% (Cluster 1) and 14.9% (Cluster 5) while marital status enhances fertilizer adoption and with being married raising the probability by 0.52% (Cluster 4). These findings emphasize the importance of education, gender, income resource access, and targeted interventions to improve agricultural technology adoption. Furthermore, promoting farmer engagement in agricultural activities is recommended through enhanced extension services and cooperative memberships.

Maize is vital for food systems and rural livelihoods in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Continuous cultivation depletes soil nutrients, reducing maize production. Inorganic (or mineral) fertilizers provide nutrients rapidly, but their cost and sustainability concerns have prompted interest in alternatives. Biological amendments improve nutrient uptake and soil structure and boost crop resistance, potentially cutting mineral fertilizer use. The present study aims to investigate the direct and residual effects of biological amendments (BAs) on maize productivity in the Eastern DRC, both when applied alone or combined with inorganic fertilizer, with trials conducted in the Kabare, Kalehe, and Ruzizi Plain regions from October 2022 to June 2024. Two trials across four seasons gathered data using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with nine treatments and three replicates: Control, without fertilizer application; farmer practice; inorganic fertilizer (NPK 17-17-17 and urea); BA_1: Lactobacillus; BA_2: fish serum; BA_3: black soldier fly (BSF) compost; BA_1 + inorganic fertilizer; BA_2 + inorganic fertilizer; and BA_3 + inorganic fertilizer. The results identified three categories: integrated organic and inorganic fertilizers, single applications, and inconsistent uses. The best outcomes emerged from treatments combining Lactobacillus, fish serum, and BSF compost with inorganic fertilizer, positively impacting maize yield parameters. The study confirms that combining biological amendments and mineral fertilizers significantly (p < 0.001) enhances maize productivity in the Eastern DRC. Performance differences across locations emphasize the influence of local soil characteristics and targeted nutrient strategies.

In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), feed scarcity is listed among the challenges constraining livestock production. This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance and farmer preference of three hybrid Urochloa cultivars (Cayman, Cobra, and Mulato‐II) and the local Rhodes grass ( Chloris gayana Kunth) in South‐Kivu and Tanganyika provinces. The forages to be tested were evaluated in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications at four sites in three agroecological zones (AEZs) for 1 year from November 2022 to October 2023. Participatory evaluation was conducted with farmers during the rainy season and at the end of the dry seasons. This study revealed that the cultivar Cobra had the best total DMY at the Katana (18.25 t DM ha ^–1 yr ^–1 ) and Katogota (18.69 t DM ha ^–1 yr ^–1 ) sites, while Mulato‐II was the best‐performing at the Kamango (16.05 t DM ha ^–1 yr ^–1 ) and Lwanika (14.79 t DM ha ^–1 yr ^–1 ) sites. The results show that cv. Cobra and cv. Mulato‐II combine high biomass productivity with strong resistance to drought, pests, and diseases across sites while Rhodes grass included for comparison yielded less biomass annually (11.69 t DM ha ^–1 yr ^–1 ). The hybrid Urochloa cultivars Mulato‐II and Cobra can be recommended as livestock feed solutions for the study area with cv. Cobra yielding higher biomass during rainy season and cv. Mulato‐II performing well during dry season.