On April 5, 2024, Her Excellency Mrs. Angeline Ndayishimiye, the First Lady of Burundi, along with national project coordinator Prudent Natal Mahoromeza, visited the BGI Group’s perennial rice planting demonstration base in the Karuzi Province to examine the progress of perennial rice cultivation in Burundi. 

The First Lady observed the growth of the perennial rice and engaged in discussions with agriculture experts from BGI Bioverse, a subsidiary of BGI Group, inquiring about planting techniques, yield performance, and market prospects of perennial rice.

Her Excellency Mrs. Angeline Ndayishimiye, the First Lady of Burundi, visited the BGI Group’s perennial rice planting demonstration base in the Karuzi Province. (Curtesy of Her Excellency)

She expressed her delight and satisfaction with the successful implementation of perennial rice in Burundi, hailing the implementation as an exemplary model of agricultural collaboration between Burundi and BGI Group. This model serves as a source of new vitality and opportunities for the agricultural development of not only Burundi but also the entire African continent.

Mr. Mahoromeza acknowledged the progress of the perennial rice initiative in Burundi, stating that the technology simplifies the production process, reduces costs, and significantly boosts rice yields. He is looking forward to expanding the cultivation area of perennial rice in Burundi, enhancing local agricultural productivity, and bringing greater profits to farmers.

The Karuzi demonstration site pioneers an innovative "rice-fish model," a method that integrates rice cultivation with fish farming, utilizing the same water resource for dual purposes. This approach is an environmentally-friendly farming practice, not only enriches biodiversity but also aims to increase crop yield and income for local farmers. After several months of careful management, the rice plants in the base have begun to sprout successfully.

BGI Group’s perennial rice planting demonstration in the Karuzi Province.

The successful implementation of the perennial rice pilot project in Burundi is a testament to the close collaboration and concerted efforts of both parties. In July 2023, during her visit to BGI Group in Shenzhen, Mrs. Ndayishimiye proposed the idea of establishing a perennial rice demonstration base in Burundi. This idea received full support from BGI Group. In January 2024, BGI Bioverse's agricultural experts in Burundi successfully cultivated the first batch of perennial rice seedlings. Working with local planting management personnel, they completed the first season's planting, marking the thriving growth of perennial rice in the fields.

The successful cultivation of perennial rice in Burundi promises tangible benefits for local farmers and offers a new solution for food security in Africa. BGI is committed to continuing its partnership with African partners, promoting high-yield demonstration planting, advancing the modernization of Africa's agriculture, and contributing to the region's well-being.