A paddy is being used for field tests for a Korean rice varietal called “jinbuolbyeo,” overseen by the Rural Development Administration’s (RDA) Korea Program on International Agriculture, in Bulgan District, Khovd Province, Mongolia, in this September 2025 photo. Courtesy of RDA

South Korea is expanding its agricultural cooperation across Africa and Asia, with Korean farming technologies helping countries improve rice production, livestock development and agricultural mechanisation while creating new opportunities for Korean companies.

The country’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) has recorded notable results through its overseas official development assistance programmes, shifting from individual technical support towards broader agricultural value-chain development.

Korean Rice Technology Expands Across Africa

One of the programme’s major initiatives is the K-Rice Belt, which involves seven African countries, including Ghana, Senegal, Kenya and Uganda.

The initiative has delivered significant improvements in rice production. High-yield rice seed production increased from 2,321 tonnes in 2023 to 6,365 tonnes in 2025, while average productivity more than doubled from 2.2 tonnes to 4.6 tonnes per hectare.

The RDA aims to increase annual seed-rice supplies to more than 10,000 tonnes by 2027, with projected production of 2.16 million tonnes of rice, enough to feed an estimated 30 million people.

The longer-term target is to develop production capacity capable of feeding 50 million people by 2030.

The programme is also designed to establish a complete agricultural value chain covering seed production, farming, processing and distribution rather than focusing solely on increasing yields.

Korea’s Agricultural Model Opens New Markets

Korea’s agricultural cooperation is also creating opportunities for exports of farming equipment, inputs and technology.

In Mongolia, Korean rice technology helped produce the country’s first successful domestic rice harvest in 2025. The RDA introduced the early-maturing Jinbuolbyeo rice variety, combined with a 40-day seedling technique and an early September harvesting schedule suited to Mongolia’s short growing season.

The success demonstrated that rice could be cultivated under Mongolia’s challenging climatic conditions while opening potential markets for Korean irrigation systems, milling equipment, fertilisers and seeds.

Similar developments are emerging in Uzbekistan, where Korean agricultural expertise has expanded into livestock and mechanisation.

Livestock And Mechanisation Projects Gain Momentum

Korean dairy cattle embryo-transfer technology achieved a 50% pregnancy success rate in Uzbekistan, reportedly 20 percentage points higher than previously imported embryos.

The results contributed to a new bilateral agreement on livestock artificial insemination expertise, while efforts to simplify veterinary drug registration are expected to make it easier for Korean agricultural companies to enter the Uzbek market.

Korean mechanised rice-transplanting technology has also reduced labour requirements by 70% while increasing productivity by 52%.

Plans are now in place to establish a 200-hectare seed production complex by 2027, further expanding Korea’s agricultural technology footprint.

From Aid to Long-Term Agricultural Development

The RDA is now working with the Korea International Cooperation Agency and South Korea’s Ministry of the Interior and Safety to develop an integrated rural-development model.

The approach combines climate-smart agricultural technologies with storage, processing and distribution infrastructure, as well as support for farmer organisations.

Rather than providing one-off technical assistance, the model aims to establish self-sustaining rural economies capable of supporting farmers over the long term.

The expansion of Korea’s agricultural cooperation comes as African countries seek to increase food production, improve farming productivity and develop domestic agricultural value chains.

For Korea, the projects are also helping create new international markets for agricultural machinery, seeds, irrigation equipment, livestock technologies and other products.