Kinshasa: the rice seed maintenance technique discussed for a profitability

Kinshasa, June 25^th, 2025 (CPA).- The technique of rice seed variety maintenance to improve yields has been discussed by an expert during the harvest in an experimental field in Mikonga 2, in the eastern part of Kinshasa (capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo), CPA has learned on Wednesday from administrative sources. ‘For the moment, we have harvested half a hectare of the first generation “g1”. From this harvest, we are working on four hectares to move on to the second generation, and so on up to the fourth generation, to obtain a pure and profitable variety that will be delivered to rice farmers,’ has declared Benoit Nzaji Lupelekese, coordinator of the National Rice Programme (PNR). ‘It takes three months to obtain one generation, and so on up to the fourth generation. For the second generation, we have started four hectares in Kingabwa in the municipality of Limete,’ he has added.  Furthermore, he has pointed out that the National Rice Programme, a seed authority in DRC, is supported by the Minister in charge of Agriculture, who had previously declared that it would take three years to master the seed sector. It is within this framework that it has been launched according to him, the technique of varietal maintenance in order to provide rice farmers with good plant material, to avoid varietal mixing and degeneration, which reduces and compromises the yield. Mr Nzaji has said that in these efforts, his organisation seeks to ensure that the variety retains its original DNA, productivity and hardiness in order to avoid varietal mixing from storage and rice farmers. ‘We have financial difficulties, but we hope that with the commitment expressed by the Minister of State, Minister in charge of Agriculture and Food Security Gregoire Mutshail Mutomb, and the technical expertise of the General Secretary, we will be able to cover the deficit,’ he has concluded. ACP/