K-Ricebelt Project: 2,321 Tonnes of High-yielding Rice Seeds 

were Produced in Six African Countries

This figure exceeds the initial production target of 2,040 tonnes by 14%. The rice seeds produced will be supplied to farmers 

and the vulnerable in Africa. The government aims to increase an annual production of high-yielding rice seeds to 10,000 tonnes 

by 2027 and thus supply them to a population of 30 million in the African continent in a stable manner.

Sejong, 25 March 2024 — The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Rural Development Administration announced 

today that a total of 2,321 tonnes¹⁾ of high-quality and high-yielding rice seeds were produced in six African countries through 

the K-Ricebelt project launched in 2023.

1) 330 tonnes in the Republic of Ghana; 180 tonnes in the Republic of The Ghambia; 66 tonnes in the Republic of Senegal; 1,119 tonnes in the Republic of Guinea; 111 tonnes 

in the Republic of Cameroon; and 515 tonnes in the Republic of Uganda.

The K-Ricebelt project is the Republic of Korea’s official development assistance (ODA) project, aimed to contribute to achieving 

zero hunger in Africa by building rice seed production complexes in African countries, producing high-yielding rice seeds, 

and supplying them to farmers. 

* ISRIZ-6 and ISRIZ-7 are high-yielding rice varieties capable of producing 5 to 6 tonnes per hectare.

In 2023, the government started a pilot project to produce rice seeds in six African countries, funded by the budget of the Korea 

Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA), and achieved a fruitful outcome of producing 2,321 tonnes of rice seeds. 

This figure exceeds the initial production target of 2,040 tonnes by 14%. The rice seeds produced will be supplied to 

farmers and the vulnerable in Africa.

The government aims to increase an annual production of high-yielding rice seeds to 10,000 tonnes by 2027 and thus supply them 

to a population of 30 million in the African continent in a stable manner. 

Accordingly, the ministry is in the process of signing a Record of Discussion (RoD) with the respective participating countries. 

Also, from this year, the ministry will carry out consolidation of farmland, construction of irrigation and drainage channels, 

modernization of farm roads, etc. As part of the effort to facilitate communication with African governments, thoroughly manage 

the K-Ricebelt project, and better respond to a crisis, the ministry will establish ODA offices in major African countries²⁾ and dispatch experts. 

2) The Republic of Ghana, the Republic of Senegal, and the Republic of Kenya 

Director-General Chong Haryon of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, “We firmly 

believe that the rice seeds will serve as a momentum for enhancing food security and agricultural innovation in Africa.”