非洲布隆迪种上多年生稻

Introduction

Since 2018, when perennial rice was promoted in Africa as part of the “South–South Cooperation” program, trial plantings in several African countries—including Uganda, Madagascar, and Malawi—have achieved encouraging results.

In 2022, the perennial indica rice variety “Yunda 107” passed Uganda’s national testing and certification, marking the beginning of its commercial application in Africa. In the first pilot planting led by the National Agricultural Research Organization of Uganda, first-season yields exceeded 400 kilograms per mu, several times higher than those of local traditional rice varieties.

In 2023, the perennial rice promotion project in Uganda was included in the “List of Practical Cooperation Projects” of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. In December of the same year, it was incorporated into the African Union’s agricultural technology promotion framework, becoming part of the AU Seed and Biotechnology Plan for 2024–2025.

Local Farmers Transplanting Rice Seedlings in Burundi

Recently, the perennial rice pilot project in Burundi has made significant progress. After completing preliminary work such as land assessment and site selection, agricultural technology experts from BGI Bioverse have guided local farmers through key production processes including field preparation and seedling transplantation, successfully completing the first season of rice transplanting.

This marks an important milestone following the cooperation invitation issued by the Office of the President of Burundi to jointly establish a perennial rice demonstration base. It is also a strong indication of BGI Bioverse’s continued efforts to deepen cooperation with Africa and promote agricultural modernization and sustainable development across the continent.

Origins of the Perennial Rice Project in Burundi

Burundi is located in east-central Africa, south of the equator. It has a subtropical to tropical climate with abundant light and heat resources, yet its agricultural productivity remains relatively low and the food supply gap is considerable. Agricultural cooperation between China and Burundi has a long history. Since 2009, China has successively dispatched four batches of agricultural assistance expert teams, making significant contributions to local agricultural development.

In July 2023, Angeline Ndayishimiye, the First Lady of Burundi, visited BGI in Shenzhen and toured the BGI Bioverse Dapeng Agricultural Science and Technology Demonstration Base. During her visit to the perennial rice demonstration fields, she gained an in-depth understanding of the breeding process and the “plant once, harvest multiple times” characteristics of perennial rice varieties, and proposed the idea of establishing a perennial rice demonstration base in Burundi.

Harvesting perennial rice at the BGI Bioverse Dapeng Agricultural Base

In September 2023, this vision made substantial progress. The Office of the President of Burundi formally extended an invitation to BGI Bioverse to cooperate, expressing its hope to introduce China’s agricultural innovation—perennial rice—as soon as possible. BGI Bioverse responded positively without delay, officially launching the collaboration. Subsequently, BGI Bioverse International Project Manager Zhang Wanling and agricultural technology expert Chen Qirong traveled to Burundi in succession to provide on-the-ground support and technical guidance for the local planting demonstration base.

BGI Bioverse agricultural technology experts preparing perennial rice seedlings in Burundi

Burundi Perennial Rice Project

In November 2023, BGI Bioverse’s agricultural technical team arrived in Burundi to begin preliminary work, including project research and seed selection. After multiple on-site surveys, suitable plots for planting perennial rice were identified.

Burundi Perennial Rice Seedling Cultivation

In January 2024, under the demonstration and guidance of agricultural technology expert Chen Qirong, and following preparatory steps before transplanting—such as seedling raising, field preparation, plowing, and land leveling—the first batch of successfully cultivated perennial rice seedlings was neatly transplanted into trial fields in Burundi.

This marks Burundi as another African country, following Uganda, Madagascar, and Malawi, to successfully introduce perennial rice.

Perennial Rice Trial Fields in Burundi, Africa

The successful implementation of the perennial rice pilot project in Burundi is the result of close cooperation and joint efforts between China and Africa. Since the project’s launch, it has received strong support from the Burundian side. Chinese technical teams have worked closely with local agricultural personnel to address a series of challenges, bringing advanced cultivation techniques and management experience directly to the fields and applying a standardized approach to agricultural production management.

The greatest advantage of perennial rice lies in its ability to reduce production steps and lower cultivation costs. Its introduction transforms rice from an annual crop into a perennial one, making it possible to plant once and harvest continuously for two to four years. From the second year (or second season) onward, production no longer requires purchasing seeds, raising seedlings, plowing and harrowing fields, or transplanting seedlings—only field management and harvesting are needed. This innovative “simplified” rice farming model significantly streamlines the production process, helping Burundian farmers reduce planting costs and improve production efficiency to a large extent.

The perennial rice trial fields in Uganda achieved a bumper harvest in 2023

In January 2024, the perennial rice pilot project in Burundi was successfully launched, marking an important milestone in BGI Bioverse’s continued efforts to deepen agricultural cooperation with Africa. It stands as a vivid example of China–Africa agricultural collaboration and a best practice of joint efforts and mutual benefit.

Looking ahead, BGI Bioverse will continue to strengthen cooperation with Africa in the agricultural sector. Building on the perennial rice pilot program, the company will promote large-scale, high-yield demonstration planting, drive agricultural innovation across the region, and contribute to food security in Africa.