IRRI Introduces New Rice Varieties for the Democratic Republic of Congo

September 6, 2025

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in collaboration with local partners under the Kugwiza Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), released 4 new rice varieties which are set to offer immediate benefits to both local and potentially regional food security from their first planting season.

In this context, IRRI Country Representative for Burundi and DRC Dr. Joseph Bigirimana said the new varieties will help in high and quality yield as the rice sector in the DRC is hindered by lack of improved varieties of rice. He further added that most rice farmers use traditional rice varieties with low quality and yield.

4 New Rice Varieties for the Democratic Republic of Congo

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) released 4 new rice varieties which are - Tengetenge, Kirera Bana, Mubusi and Rutete. All the new rice varieties possess high-yielding capacity and superior agronomic traits. All 4 rice varieties are believed to have capacity to adapt to the specific environmental conditions prevalent in the Great Lakes region of Africa. A key advantage of these new varieties of rice is their high yield potential, promising to significantly increase rice production per unit area compared to currently cultivated traditional varieties.