What is Innocent feeding his animals?
This enterprising DRC farmer has transformed his farmyard (and his family's future!) with the help of a single, wriggling ingredient.
Written by Deborah Wolfe
on March 5, 2026
On a winter morning in Canada, I can drive ten minutes to a grocery store. There’s chicken, eggs, milk and yogurt—even protein powders in tidy tubs. I rarely ask myself where animal feed comes from, or what it costs the farmers.
But in the Binza region of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the answer to that question can determine the course of children’s lives.
For years, Binza has been battered by civil conflict. Militias have torched homes, looted livestock, and shattered livelihoods. Making a living—feeding your family with nutritious food and sending your children to school—has felt like a far-off dream.
For in a place where tomorrow is never guaranteed, survival itself can feel like a full-time job.
There’s one in every class
We recently introduced you to Rodrigue Harakandi of World Vision DRC, who captures the stories of Binza’s families as they work with World Vision to rebuild their lives.
Livelihood training is a big part of that. Participants learn:
- How to grow crops and raise animals in sustainable ways
- How to form savings groups
- How to follow local market trends—and determine when to sell at a fair price
Rodrigue met a farmer named Innocent at one of those training sessions. He noticed that other participants stood close to Innocent, asking him questions and listening to his explanations.
“Innocent naturally stood out for his leadership, generosity and ability to clearly convey what he had learned,” recalls Rodrigue. "At home, his income was increasing, thanks to chickens and rabbits from World Vision.”
Innocent’s new recipe for animal feed is helping him pay for his three children to attend school.
An international learner
Soon, Innocent was volunteering to lead those trainings. On his own, he began researching low-cost sources of protein to add to his animal feed.
“At the trainings, I heard about his project with black soldier fly larvae,” says Rodrigue. Intrigued, he visited Innocent’s farm to ask more questions.
Black soldier fly larvae farming offers an economical way to convert organic waste into high-protein animal feed. It’s a sustainable practice that’s gained attention around the world— including here in Canada.
Black soldier fly larvae munch on natural waste, growing more nutrient dense every hour. What’s left behind can be used as compost.
Sharing his bounty
Once he’d saved enough money, Innocent made a bold move. He paid for his own trip to Uganda, to learn more about the emerging field of black soldier fly larvae farming.
Back home in Binza, Innocent waved farewell to fish meal, the costly protein source he'd used in the past. He began raising and drying larvae for his animal feed.
The results were easy to see. Innocent’s animals grew larger, stronger and healthier. His costs dropped. He could raise and sell more chickens and eggs to community members. His price was more affordable than people paid at the market.
With the additional income, he improved his farm and sent his children to school. In a region where education is often felled by conflict, that alone is a quiet triumph.
A man ahead of his time
Nowadays, farmers travel from across Binza to visit Innocent’s farm. They stand where he once stood—watching, listening and asking questions.
Innocent trains them in the same black soldier fly larvae technique that changed his life. He’s passing on knowledge that multiplies hope. “What he’s achieved is more than a technical improvement,” says Rodrigue. “It’s a response to multiple challenges at once.”
- Ecologically, the larvae transform organic waste into valuable protein.
- Economically, they lower feed costs and increase income.
- Nutritionally, they strengthen the animals that families depend on for food and earnings.
Innocent's children are young now and in pre-primary or primary classes at school. But his burgeoning business promises them many years of education ahead.
An ingredient in lasting change
Rodrigue sees it clearly: this is what lasting change looks like. Not dependence, but leadership. Not charity alone, but courage paired with opportunity.
“World Vision gave him the basics,” says Rodrigue. “Innocent built his own path forward.”
Innocent offers living proof that World Vision’s Nexus programming can help change lives—especially when fueled by the determination of participants. Not only is change possible, but it’s already happening.
Story made possible thanks to files from Rodrigue Harakandi.