Officials from the office of the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture in Senegal check rice seed sacks in Sapu, Gambia, in this March file photo. Courtesy of Ministry of Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

The Korean government has produced more than 2,300 tons of Korean rice seed in six African nations as part of its ongoing initiatives aimed at fostering self-sufficiency in food production within these countries. This effort, led by the Ministry of Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs, signifies a commitment to supporting agricultural development and food security in the region.

The ministry has established rice seed production complexes in these countries, resulting in the production of ISRIZ-6 and ISRIZ-7, high-yield rice varieties capable of producing 5 to 6 tons per hectare. In total, these complexes have yielded 2,321 tons of rice seed. Guinea produced 1,119 tons of rice seed, Uganda 515 tons, Ghana 330 tons, The Gambia 180 tons, Cameroon 111 tons and Senegal 66 tons.

The produce is the result of the K-Rice Belt initiative, an official development assistance (ODA) project that the ministry launched last year to support developing countries by improving their food sustainability regarding rice. It is funded by the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA), the ministry's ODA initiative.

Under the project, the ministry, in partnership with the Rural Development Agency, its subsidiary that researches agricultural technologies, dispatched officials to the countries to study local lands, find ways to maximize rice production and train local citizens to cultivate the seeds.

Yaw Frimpong Addo, left, Ghana's Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture shakes hands with Kim Hwang Yong, chief of the technical cooperation bureau under Rural Development Agency, during the agency's rice seed handing-over ceremony in Ghana, March 5. Courtesy of Rural Development Agency

The amount of rice seed produced exceeded the ministry's target of 2,040 tons by 14 percent. The produced seeds will be supplied to farmers and vulnerable groups in the participating countries after the ministry consults with them.

"We firmly believe that the rice seed will serve as momentum for enhancing food security and agricultural innovation in Africa," Director-General Chong Ha-ryon of the International Cooperation Bureau under the ministry said.

The ministry aims to increase the annual production of high-yield rice seed in the countries to 10,000 tons by 2027 and supply them to the countries' combined population (30 million) in a stable manner.

The ministry, while currently undertaking the signing of the record of discussion (RoD) with the countries participating in the K-Rice Belt initiative, plans to redevelop local arable lands to cultivate rice seeds, construct irrigation and drainage channels, and modernize farm roads within this year. The authority also plans to establish ODA offices in Ghana, Senegal and Kenya and dispatch experts there to better facilitate communication with the respective African governments.