DR Congo, July 2025

Strategic Strengthening of the Rice Sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

From July 15 to 16, 2025, a joint mission of the Secretariat of the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to support the implementation of the National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS) and prepare for the annual rice sector review.

Led by the Regional Advisor, Mr. Andry RANDRIANTSOA, the mission highlighted the DRC’s strong political commitment and its already well-structured rice sector governance framework. As the current Chair of the Council of Ministers of AfricaRice, the country has expressed its ambition to play a leading role in regional coordination.

The National Institute for Agronomic Study and Research (INERA) presented advances in rice research, particularly on the FARO 55/56 and ANUT varieties, while emphasizing the need for additional support for seed multiplication. Discussions with partners confirmed increasing alignment between the national strategy and donor priorities. The World Bank welcomed this coherence, and JICA reiterated its interest in continuing collaboration with the national Task Force.

CARD reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Task Force, particularly in technical assistance for targeted resource mobilization and in strengthening advocacy efforts with donors.

The DRC is thus positioning itself as a strategic actor in the development of the rice sector in Central Africa, combining political vision with operational capacity.