Planting Skills
Chinese experts transfer farming knowhow
ONCE, Benin’s cotton farmers used to struggle to produce a sufficient yield, squeezing out 1.5 tons per hectare on a meager average. But after Chinese agricultural experts came to their aid, bringing in better seeds and technology, the West African country’s cotton production has dramatically doubled. It is a happy synergy of local resources and Chinese knowhow.
The miracle has been repeated in Nigeria’s rice fields. Chinese experts researched rice cultivation in the country and compiled technical guidelines for local farmers. Following their advice, farmers have increased the rice yield from 1.5 tons to 4 tons per hectare.
Chinese agricultural assistance is being offered in many countries across Africa. In Zimbabwe, it helped small dairy farmers increase their average daily milk yield after they started using the portable milking machines Chinese agricultural experts introduced to them.
In Ethiopia, Chinese experts cultivated edible fungi on maize cobs. A lip-smacking variety of mushrooms like oyster mushroom and button mushroom has begun to appear on the dining table of the locals.
Putting pledge into practice
Since the First Summit of the Forum on China-africa Cooperation in Beijing in 2006 agreed to step up agricultural cooperation between China and African countries, the Center of International Cooperation Service at China’s Ministry of Agriculture has been focusing on human resources cooperation with African countries. From 2009 onward, 48 teams of experts and 16 teachers’ groups have been sent to 34 African countries, where they have played an important role in developing agriculture on the continent in a sustainable way.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The Chinese experts have been designing a variety of measures for areas with different development levels, natural resources and climatic conditions. They have also established agriculture demonstration centers and provided training to African agricultural officials and technicians, and on-site guidance to small farmers in remote rural areas.
An expert on edible fungi, Zheng Aibao worked in Nigeria and Ethiopia from 2005. Working in the National Biotechnology Development Agency under the Nigerian Ministry of Science and Technology, he has been in charge of research and development, training and promotion of edible fungi-related technology. Zheng has helped set up six demonstration centers for commercially cultivating edible fungi in Nigeria, giving a boost to the sector’s potential.
“While constructing and managing the demonstration and training centers, we adopted very high standards, which is key to promoting edible fungi in a country,” Zheng told Chinafrica.
Liu Xiaohui, an animal husbandry expert, has led three teams of senior agricultural experts to Zimbabwe. What he enjoyed most during these deputations was engaging with local farmers, solving their problems and training them. He has held several dairy farming training sessions in remote rural areas where their help was most needed.
African countries are rich in natural resources and have a long agricultural history. However, African rural farmers lack knowledge of modern methods and technology. One reason is that agricultural manuals are very hard to find. To address the gap, the Chinese experts in Africa have been compiling manuals for farmers based on their local agriculture research reports.
In 2012, Zheng published a textbook on tropical edible fungi cultivation in Nigeria. Last year, the 15th batch of Chinese teachers in Africa compiled books on veterinary medicine and poultry breeding. They also launched projects to have more such books on dairy farming, bee raising, crops growing and using agricultural machinery.
In Ethiopia, the experts have come up with many innovations. They built an aquafarm to demonstrate, a user-friendly corn planting machine, and the country’s first artificial insemination laboratory for breeding pigs. They even built an expert diagnostic system for epidemics. In Egypt, Chinese teachers have provided training in using farm machineries as well as utilizing biogas, combining theory with practice. Their methods include using videos and hands-on training that have received positive feedback.
“We will continue to strengthen the mechanism of Chinese experts’ assistance to help African countries with their agricultural development,” said Tong Yu’e, Director of the center, outlining the cooperation plan for 2016. “We will also extend our cooperation into more areas.”
We will continue to strengthen the mechanism of Chinese experts’ assistance to help African countries with their agricultural development [in 2016].
Tong Yu’e, Director, Center of International Cooperation Service, Ministry of Agriculture of China