DRC to boost soybean and maize production with US$7.7 million in funding
The Ministry of National Economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced US$7.7 million in funding for an agricultural program in South Ubangi province in the country’s northwest. The ministry disclosed this initiative in an official statement published on 16th April 2026. Authorities will implement the project in partnership with Centre de développement intégral Bwamanda.
The ministry presented the program as a concrete step to boost local production and strengthen food security. The program aims to support farmers in South Ubangi, revive soybean and maize value chains, and improve agricultural roads. Moreover, the program seeks to reinforce the entire value chain from production to distribution toward Kinshasa, the country’s main consumption hub.
The Ministry of National Economy stated that this initiative forms part of a broader strategy to combat rising living costs, create local value, and reposition agriculture as a strategic pillar of the national economy.
Project partner CDI-Bwamanda operates as a development NGO founded in 1969 in the region. The organization applies an integrated development approach that combines interventions across agriculture, healthcare, education, sociocultural development, and technical support. The NGO aims to sustainably improve living conditions by promoting both economic autonomy and social well-being among local populations.
This program adds to another ongoing agricultural initiative in the province. Since 6th April 2026, South Ubangi has benefited from the Integrated Program to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (PIREDD), which has a budget of US$25 million.
The Central African Forest Initiative is financing the program through the Fonds national REDD+, while Enabel is implementing it over the 2026-2030 period. The program promotes sustainable agricultural practices, supports agroforestry systems, and encourages the cultivation of perennial crops such as coffee and cocoa.
