First Lady of Burundi Inspects Karuzi Perennial Rice Demonstration Site

The First Lady of Burundi, Angeline Ndayishimiye, Inspects the Karuzi Perennial Rice Demonstration Site

Recently, the First Lady of Burundi, Angeline Ndayishimiye, together with the national project leader Prudent Natal Mahoromeza, Fang Guoqing, Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Burundi, and embassy secretary Zhao Shangshang, visited the Karuzi region of Burundi to inspect the perennial rice planting demonstration site. The delegation gained an in-depth understanding of the cultivation status of perennial rice in Burundi and evaluated the effectiveness of the China–Africa agricultural cooperation project. Representatives from BGI Bioverse, including Ren Xi, Zhang Wanling, and Chen Qirong, accompanied the visit.

Angelina Ndayishimiye, First Lady of Burundi, at the Karuzi Planting Demonstration Site

At the site, Mrs. Ndayishimiye went deep into the fields to closely observe the growth of perennial rice. Walking slowly along the ridges, she frequently stopped to communicate with BGI agricultural experts, asking detailed questions about cultivation techniques, yield performance, and market prospects. She said she was very pleased and encouraged to see perennial rice successfully implemented in Burundi. This achievement not only serves as a model of agricultural cooperation between Burundi and BGI, but also brings new vitality and opportunities to agricultural development in Burundi and across Africa.

Prudent Natal Mahoromeza affirmed the progress made in the localization of perennial rice in Burundi. He noted that perennial rice technology can simplify rice production processes, reduce costs, and significantly increase yields. He expressed hope that the planting area of perennial rice could be further expanded in Burundi in the future, improving local agricultural productivity and bringing greater benefits to farmers.

April 2024: Perennial Rice Heading at the Karuzi Demonstration Site

The successful implementation of the perennial rice pilot project in Burundi is the result of close collaboration and joint efforts by both sides. Since the launch of the project, strong support has been provided by the Burundian side, while the Chinese agricultural technical team has worked closely with the local planting and management team to address and overcome a series of technical challenges. Standardized management has been carried out in accordance with the Technical Guidelines for High-Yield Cultivation of Perennial Rice, ensuring the smooth progress of planting activities.

Looking back to July 2023, First Lady Angeline Ndayishimiye visited BGI in Shenzhen. During her visit to the BGI Dapeng Agricultural Science and Technology Demonstration Base, she gained an in-depth understanding of the breeding history of perennial rice, its unique advantage of “one planting, multiple harvests,” and its application prospects. She proposed the idea of establishing a perennial rice planting demonstration base in Burundi, an initiative that received an active and full response from BGI Group.

In July 2023, the First Lady of Burundi, Angeline Ndayishimiye, visited the Dapeng Agricultural Base in Shenzhen to learn about the characteristics of perennial rice varieties

Through joint efforts and meticulous preparation by both sides, in January 2024 agricultural technical experts from BGI Bioverse stationed in Burundi successfully cultivated the first batch of perennial rice seedlings. Working together with local planting and management personnel, they completed the first season of transplanting using “Chinese experience.” Subsequently, the perennial rice, managed in accordance with “Chinese standards,” began to grow vigorously in the paddies.

At the same time, the Karuzi demonstration site innovatively adopted a “rice–fish farming model,” achieving an organic symbiosis between rice cultivation and fish farming. Fish are raised in the paddies while rice is grown, realizing the benefits of “dual use of water, increased yield, and higher income.” After several months of careful management, the rice plants at the site have begun heading one after another, showing strong vitality and signaling a promising harvest ahead.

In January 2024, seedling cultivation of perennial rice was carried out at the Karuzi planting demonstration base

The successful cultivation of perennial rice in Burundi not only brings tangible economic benefits to local farmers, but also injects new momentum into food security across Africa. As an innovative “light and simplified” rice-farming model, the greatest advantage of perennial rice lies in reducing production steps and lowering costs, thereby significantly improving agricultural efficiency. Its promotion and application will help ensure high and stable grain yields and support local farmers in achieving their harvest goals at an earlier stage.

Located in Dameisha, Shenzhen, BGI Group’s global headquarters

BGI is a world-leading institution at the forefront of life sciences, playing an important role in advancing agricultural science and technology innovation and international cooperation. BGI Bioverse has long been committed to the global promotion and development of perennial rice, and in recent years has achieved continuous new progress.

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 experimental planting led by the National Agricultural Research Organization of Uganda, the first-season yield exceeded 400 kilograms per mu, three to four times that 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, and 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.