The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in collaboration with local and international partners, has introduced four new rice varieties in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to strengthen food security and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers .
The newly released varieties—Tengetenge, Kirera Bana, Mubusi, and Rutete—were developed specifically to thrive in the local ecologies of the Great Lakes region . They are designed to address long-standing constraints in the country’s rice sector, where farmers have traditionally relied on low-yielding, low-quality local varieties .
Tackling Low Productivity with High-Yield Seeds
Rice production in DRC has been significantly hindered by the lack of access to improved seeds . The newly introduced varieties offer a substantial leap in productivity. According to IRRI, these seeds are disease-resistant and deliver notably higher yields compared to the traditional varieties currently cultivated by most farmers .
Beyond quantity, the quality of the harvest has also been prioritized. The new varieties have been bred to meet local consumer preferences, producing non-sticky grain with good cooking quality, better milling recovery, and higher market value .
The Kugwiza Project: A Collaborative Effort
The launch is a key component of the Great Lakes Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative Rapid Delivery Hub (AID-I GLR), commonly known as the Kugwiza Project . This initiative operates across DRC, Burundi, and Rwanda, aiming to reach 1.2 million households .
The project is implemented in partnership with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), other CGIAR centers, and local stakeholders . The seeds were developed at IRRI’s headquarters in the Philippines and the Regional Crop Improvement Hub at the University of Burundi .
“In the DRC, the rice sector development is hindered by a lack of improved varieties. Most rice farmers use traditional rice varieties with low yield and quality,” said Dr. Joseph Bigirimana, IRRI Country Representative for Burundi and DRC . He added that the released varieties will contribute to boosting rice production in irrigated lowland ecologies, thus strengthening the country’s food security .
Bridging the Gap with Demonstration Plots
To ensure rapid adoption, the Kugwiza Project has established demonstration plots in lowland and mid-altitude regions where farmers are new to rice cultivation . These plots allow farmers and researchers to observe the performance of the varieties under local conditions.
Alongside the seed distribution, the initiative has also provided training on irrigation and crop management. Farmers were given seed samples to test the performance of the varieties themselves, encouraging on-the-ground validation of the new technology .
A Broader Regional Impact
This release is part of a larger, ongoing effort to enhance rice production across sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2011, IRRI and its partners have now released 60 improved rice varieties in the region, underscoring a long-term commitment to modernizing the continent’s rice sector .
