By Simbarashe Muparaganda
Harare (New Ziana) – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has offered land to Zimbabwe for agricultural projects, to provide opportunities for local farmers and agribusinesses to assist in driving crop production in the Central African nation.
DRC is seeking to tap into the expertise of Zimbabwe in crop production, livestock development, mechanisation and seed systems.
Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Dr Obert Jiri said on Tuesday the offer emerged during a recent visit by Zimbabwean officials to the DRC, where authorities expressed keen interest in learning from local agricultural transformation and strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
Speaking after hosting a high-powered delegation from Lualaba province in the DRC, led by the Minister for Land Affairs, Agriculture, Fisheries, Breeding and Rural Development, Jean-Pierre Kalenga Mupatale on Tuesday, Dr Jiri said the visit marked the beginning of a practical partnership aimed at boosting agricultural production in the Central African country.
Dr Jiri said the delegation is touring various agricultural enterprises, including wheat production, dairy farming, blueberry production, seed companies and agricultural machinery firms, to gain insights that can assist in transforming the Congolese agriculture sector.
“It is very exciting that the DRC wants to learn from us. They have seen and heard what Zimbabwe is doing in agriculture and now they want to see it firsthand. The delegation is touring our agriculture following our visit to their country where they expressed interest in our agriculture and a desire to develop their own agricultural sector, particularly in cropping and livestock production,” he said.
He said the visit was expected to culminate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will facilitate skills transfer, seed and machinery supply, and broader cooperation between the two countries, with support from the private sector.
“The expectation is that following this visit, we will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding where we will transfer skills, seeds and machinery, working together with the private sector to ensure that we go there and initiate production. They have already offered land in the DRC where we can kick-start production of crops immediately. It is very exciting that the DRC wants to learn from us. They have seen and heard what we do and now they want to see it firsthand,” Prof Jiri said.
The latest engagement builds on discussions held during the 7th edition of the Katanga Business Meeting (KBM) in Kolwezi, Lualaba Province, in May this year.
It followed initial engagements at the 2025 edition of the forum, where Lualaba Province expressed interest in leveraging Zimbabwe’s agricultural expertise to diversify its economy and strengthen food production.
The visit is expected to pave the way for deeper agricultural cooperation between the two countries, with Zimbabwe positioned to export its expertise, technologies and production models while helping unlock the DRC’s vast agricultural potential.
New Ziana
