The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) stands as one of Africa’s greatest untapped agricultural frontiers. With a population exceeding 113 million people and more arable land than any other nation on the continent, the country offers vast potential for transforming food systems and improving livelihoods. Despite its 80 million hectares of fertile farmland and consistent, abundant rainfall, less than 10 percent is currently under cultivation. This presents a significant opportunity, not only for the DRC to achieve food security, but also for Zambia and Afriseed to support this transformation through the supply of high-quality seed and agricultural expertise.
Agriculture remains central to the DRC’s economy, contributing about 18 percent of GDP and employing more than 60 percent of the population. Yet productivity levels remain low due to limited access to improved inputs, weak extension services, and underdeveloped market systems. Through its strong partnership with Congo Synergy business facilities, Afriseed has been working to bridge this gap by exporting drought tolerant hybrid maize seed to the DRC and helping farmers unlock their production potential.
Afriseed’s commitment to supporting agricultural development in the DRC was further strengthened through the Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I), a program managed by CIMMYT and funded by USAID. In collaboration with Congo Synergy business facilities, Afriseed implemented targeted interventions aimed at improving resilience and boosting productivity among smallholder farmers in the Haut Katanga region.
The initiative placed a strong emphasis on breaking barriers to the adoption of improved seed and climate-smart farming technologies. Key achievements included the establishment of over 60 seed demonstration plots that allowed farmers to observe the performance of hybrid maize varieties under local conditions; the organization of farmer field days and trainings to equip farmers with practical agronomic knowledge; and the distribution of small seed packs that enabled households to test improved varieties without financial risk. Through this partnership, over 150 metric tonnes of drought-tolerant maize seed were distributed in the DRC, reaching more than 30,000 farmers.
Looking ahead, Afriseed is committed to expanding this impact across the DRC. The focus includes widening market development activities, increasing training and extension outreach, and scaling up the distribution of high-quality seeds to thousands more farmers.
These collective efforts are laying a strong foundation for enhanced food security, improved livelihoods, and sustainable economic growth in the Haut Katanga region and beyond. As Afriseed continues its mission, the vision remains clear: to empower Congolese farmers with the tools, knowledge, and quality seed they need to thrive, strengthening regional collaboration and driving agricultural transformation from Zambia to the DRC.
By John Chimfwembe, Business Development Officer
Afriseed, Lusaka, Zambia
