It is a challenge to find the right food and enough of it here in Lwiro to feed the 100 plus primates in our care. In the dry season, food can be hard to find or the quality isn’t fantastic. Generally we purchase all of our dry stock in bulk from Bukavu (the city 60km from Lwiro). And we purchase all of our fresh fruit and vegetables from local farmers either from the twice weekly markets or when they come to the door to sell us their goods. However, even with this system, sometimes we found it hard to get enough food. So, as the sanctuary was growing, we decided it was time to start a farm of our own. Still 80% of our food is purchased from local people, but our farm gives us a little security and the opportunity to grow items not found here in Lwiro already. Having a farm also means more employment in the local area – so everyone wins.
Here at the CRPL we grow:
- Bananas
- Mangoes
- Avocadoes
- Papaya
- Guavas
- Kumquats
- Lemons
- Apples (although, the trees are not yet mature)
- Custard apples
- Zinziber (a forest fruit)
- Tomatoes
- Onions
- Pumpkins
- Eggplants
Custard Apples
Orange
Banana tree
Zinziber
Papaya 
Corn (mais)
Pumpkins
