Keepingitconstant

China optimizes the agricultural aid program in Africa to ensure its continuity and effectiveness

Before starting a new program, we will communicate with the agriculture authorities in African countries to learn more about their needs, trying to ensure continuity and enhance effectiveness.

The plains of Imbo in Bubanza Province, Burundi, recorded the highest rice yield in Africa in October last year, surpassing the average yield in the area by three-folds. The bumper crop of 13,860 kg per hectare was grown on a demonstration field set up by Chinese agricultural experts.

“This achievement will be recorded in the history of Burundi, and also further builds up the confidence of developing our rice growing industry through learning from Chinese rice cultivation technology,” said Deo-guide Rurema, Burundi’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock.

This rice demonstration project was one of the highlights at China Agricultural Training and Aid Conference held by China’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) last December.

In 2016, China sent seven groups of 72 agricultural experts to five African countries, namely, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Burundi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, said Zhang Lubiao, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of MOA.

“Chinese agricultural experts groups made many breakthroughs in their pilot demonstration projects, which won wide recognition from all sides,” said Zhang. The successful projects include a rice demonstration project in Burundi, new varieties of mushrooms cultivation pilot project in Ethiopia, highyield hybrid rice experiment in Zimbabwe, and a fish farming demonstration project in Djibouti.

In addition, the Chinese experts groups have trained more than 6,000 local officials and technicians, transferring skills and improving the capacity of agricultural technicians in Africa.

Chinese experts have been working with their local peers, particularly in Ethiopia, to compile six textbooks for students of agricultural technical vocational education and training (ATVET) programs, addressing the shortage of quality textbooks in the ATVET colleges.