DRC allocates US$7.7M to expand maize and soybean production in South Ubangi
The funding targets farm output, rural roads, and market access in South Ubangi province.
DRC – The Democratic Republic of Congo has allocated US$7.7 million to an agricultural programme in South Ubangi province to raise maize and soybean production and improve transport links to markets.
The Ministry of National Economy announced the programme on April 16, 2026. It will run with the Bwamanda Integrated Development Center, known as CDI-Bwamanda.
The plan aims to increase output from local farmers, fix rural roads, and improve the flow of goods to Kinshasa, the country’s main consumer market. Officials say the programme will also strengthen the full value chain from farms to buyers.
The government says the investment will help reduce the cost of living, raise local production, and place agriculture at the centre of the national economy.
CDI-Bwamanda operates as a non-governmental development organisation founded in 1969 in the same region. It runs programmes in farming, health, education, and social services. The group works with communities to raise income levels and improve living conditions through practical projects.
A second programme in South Ubangi adds wider environmental goals. Since April 6, 2026, the province has received US$25 million (US$25 million) under the Integrated Programme for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, known as PIREDD.
The Central African Forest Initiative funds the project through the National REDD+ Fund, while the Belgian agency Enabel implements it from 2026 to 2030. The programme promotes farming methods that reduce pressure on forests, expands agroforestry systems, and encourages long-term crops such as coffee and cocoa.
Local farmers expect better access to inputs such as seeds and storage after the programme begins. Traders in Kinshasa also expect more stable supply of maize and soy products from the province. Officials in South Ubangi plan to work with local leaders to track progress and keep transport routes open during harvest seasons.
Transport upgrades also aim to cut delays on routes that connect rural zones to Kinshasa. Authorities expect that faster movement of goods will reduce post-harvest losses, which often affect maize and soybean farmers in the province.
The programme will run alongside other national agriculture plans that focus on market access and rural income growth today now.
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