Land issues and urban agriculture : Case of the Funa Valley in Kinshasa

Abstract

The demographic evolution of the megalopolis of Kinshasa leads to an occupation of lands subject to agricultural uses. The subdivision on agricultural land causes conflicts between developers, new land occupants and farmers on these lands. A spatial analysis and a socio-economic survey on land occupation, land conflicts and their management in the Funa Valley in Kinshasa were carried out with the aim of highlighting the level of occupation of the Funa Valley and the different issues related to this occupation. The results of the analyzes show that: - The spatial analysis of the occupation of the valley shows a strong evolution of the anthropic presence on its slopes as in the valley bottom. - 61% of occupants in the valley own the land; - 52% of occupants of the valley, in one of its slopes, Block A, have a time of installation in the valley of 5 years and that this time of installation in the valley is strongly linked to its blocks; - The majority of occupants in the valley have permission to build and the types of documents in their possession are strongly related to the blocks of the valley; - 50% of occupants in Block A do not practice farming and 50% of occupants in block C practice of agricultural activity. The practice of activity in the valley is not linked at all to its blocks. Several land conflicts are cited in the valley such as: the illegal sale of parcels by customary chiefs, illegal occupation of agricultural land by non-market gardeners, etc. Of these conflicts, the most concerned are the customary chiefs. The management of these conflicts is often referred to the district chief and the justice ministry.