A $311.6 million project, predominantly financed by a $250.4 million loan from the African Development Fund and an additional $10 million from the Transition Support Facility, aims to revolutionize food production in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC government and project beneficiaries will contribute $51.2 million.
The initiative seeks to enhance the DRC’s food self-sufficiency by significantly increasing the production of rice, cassava, maize, and soya, reducing the country’s $3 billion annual food imports. By bolstering the seed capital for these crops and promoting climate-smart farming techniques, the project will help mitigate external shocks such as climate change and armed conflict.
Key components include the cultivation of 295,000 hectares with climate-resistant seeds, the establishment of 1,600 farmer field schools, and the development of irrigated rice-growing areas. Additionally, 600 km of rural tracks will be upgraded to improve market access, and value chain stakeholders will be organized into cooperative companies to enhance their bargaining power.
The project will also build national capacity in agricultural research and seed systems across six provinces: Kongo Central, Kwango, Maï-Ndombe, Kasaï Oriental, Lomami, and South Kivu, directly benefiting approximately 900,000 farming households.
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Expected outcomes include an 80% increase in crop yields, an annual boost of 1.68 million tonnes in agricultural production, and a reduction of $500 million in food imports annually. The project aims to strengthen food security for around 21 million residents in major cities like Kinshasa and improve regional trade with Angola.
“The African Development Bank is a strategic partner of the DRC, committed to making agriculture a priority sector for the country’s development,” said Serge N’Guessan, the Bank’s Director General for Central Africa. “This project will enable the rapid implementation of the National Food and Agriculture Pact.
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