• The DRC government committed $7.7 million to boost soybean and maize production in South Ubangi province.
• Authorities aim to strengthen the full agricultural value chain and improve supply routes to Kinshasa.
• The program complements a $25 million forest and sustainable agriculture initiative backed by CAFI and Enabel.

The Ministry of National Economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced $7.7 million in funding for an agricultural program in South Ubangi province in the country’s northwest. The ministry disclosed this initiative in an official statement published on April 16, 2026. Authorities will implement the project in partnership with Centre de développement intégral Bwamanda.

The ministry presented the program as a concrete step to boost local production and strengthen food security. The program aims to support farmers in South Ubangi, revive soybean and maize value chains, and improve agricultural roads. Moreover, the program seeks to reinforce the entire value chain from production to distribution toward Kinshasa, the country’s main consumption hub.

The Ministry of National Economy stated that this initiative forms part of a broader strategy to combat rising living costs, create local value, and reposition agriculture as a strategic pillar of the national economy.

Project partner CDI-Bwamanda operates as a development NGO founded in 1969 in the region. The organization applies an integrated development approach that combines interventions across agriculture, healthcare, education, sociocultural development, and technical support. The NGO aims to sustainably improve living conditions by promoting both economic autonomy and social well-being among local populations.

This program adds to another ongoing agricultural initiative in the province. Since April 6, 2026, South Ubangi has benefited from the Integrated Program to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (PIREDD), which has a budget of $25 million.

The Central African Forest Initiative is financing the program through the Fonds national REDD+, while Enabel is implementing it over the 2026–2030 period. The program promotes sustainable agricultural practices, supports agroforestry systems, and encourages the cultivation of perennial crops such as coffee and cocoa.

Ronsard Luabeya (Bankable)