The produce is the result of the K-Rice Belt initiative, an official development assistance (ODA) project that the ministry launched last year to support developing countries by improving their food sustainability regarding rice. It is funded by the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA), the ministry's ODA initiative.
Under the project, the ministry, in partnership with the Rural Development Agency, its subsidiary that researches agricultural technologies, dispatched officials to the countries to study local lands, find ways to maximize rice production and train local citizens to cultivate the seeds.
The amount of rice seed produced exceeded the ministry's target of 2,040 tons by 14 percent. The produced seeds will be supplied to farmers and vulnerable groups in the participating countries after the ministry consults with them.
“We firmly believe that the rice seed will serve as momentum for enhancing food security and agricultural innovation in Africa,” Director-General Chong Ha-ryon of the International Cooperation Bureau under the ministry said.
The ministry aims to increase the annual production of high-yield rice seed in the countries to 10,000 tons by 2027 and supply them to the countries' combined population (30 million) in a stable manner.
The ministry, while currently undertaking the signing of the record of discussion (RoD) with the countries participating in the K-Rice Belt initiative, plans to redevelop local arable lands to cultivate rice seeds, construct irrigation and drainage channels, and modernize farm roads within this year. The authority also plans to establish ODA offices in Ghana, Senegal and Kenya and dispatch experts there to better facilitate communication with the respective African governments.
