Korea's agricultural outreach sees success in Asia, Africa

The Korea Rural Development Administration (RDA) has achieved significant successes in its overseas agricultural official development assistance projects, addressing decades-old challenges with sustainable food security solutions. Notably, the RDA's initiatives have led to successful rice cultivation projects in Mongolia and several African nations, as well as in Uzbekistan. Korean agricultural technology is now facilitating machinery and livestock exports in these regions.

Mongolia, previously entirely reliant on imported rice, experienced its first successful domestic harvest in 2025 through the RDA's Korea Program on International Agriculture. The breakthrough was achieved using an early-maturing Korean rice variety called "jinbuolbyeo" and a specialized technique involving 40-day seedlings and an early September harvest schedule tailored to Mongolia's brief growing season.

Test plots in Bulgan District, Khovd Province, yielded approximately 310 kilograms per 1,000 square meters, demonstrating that rice cultivation is feasible in Mongolia's challenging climate. This achievement has opened doors for Korean irrigation systems and milling equipment in the region.