Interview: China is a Reliable Partner for Agricultural Development in Congo (Brazzaville) - Interview with Congo's Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Ngobo Brazzaville | Reporter | Agriculture
Brazzaville, July 15th (Xinhua) - China is a reliable partner for the development of agriculture in Congo - Interview with Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Ngobo of Congo
Xinhua News Agency reporter Shi Yu
China is a reliable and trustworthy partner for the development of agriculture in Congo, said Paul Valentan Ngobo, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Congo, in an interview with Xinhua News Agency in the capital Brazzaville.
Engobo stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1964, agricultural cooperation between Congo and China has continuously developed and achieved fruitful results. For many years, China's food aid has provided charcoal for a large number of households in Congo. The agricultural machinery produced by China is busy operating in the fields of Congo, and the continuous harvest of Chinese crops has helped many Congolese farmers overcome poverty.
Engebo attaches great importance to the agricultural training cooperation between Congo and China, and speaks highly of the China Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center located in the suburbs of Brazzaville. He said, "Materials will always be worn out and scrapped, but the knowledge gained from training will be passed down forever."
Since the official launch of the center in September 2012, Chinese agricultural experts have regularly held training courses here, imparting advanced agricultural technologies to local farmers and agricultural officials, achieving the integration of "science popularization, training, and research", and playing a huge role in promoting the sustainable development of local agriculture.
The reporter saw at the demonstration center that bitter gourds were hanging all over the vines, water spinach was preparing to break through the ground, and chili peppers were brightly colored. The yield of "South China 5" cassava planted in the demonstration center reached 51 tons per hectare, which is 5.6 times the yield of local varieties. Seedless watermelons and greenhouse tomatoes planted in the demonstration center have also entered the local vegetable market.
Engebo said that the demonstration center is well-known locally, and many people come to look for jobs or inquire about training opportunities.
In April this year, Engobo unveiled a small high-quality cassava flour processing plant for the demonstration center. He told reporters that cassava is a staple food for many Congolese people, and compared to traditional processing methods, the processing plant has greatly shortened the drying and fermentation time of cassava. "Similar processing plants will generate income for cassava growers and produce high-quality and affordable cassava flour."
"China has rich experience in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries, and the Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center has opened the door for China to impart agricultural knowledge to Congo." Ngobo said that he hopes to use China's successful experience in planting rice and other crops to broaden the path of agricultural development in Congo.
Engobo also said that high-quality agricultural development cannot be achieved without good management concepts. In addition to agricultural technology, Congo also looks forward to Chinese agricultural experts continuing to share successful management experiences and helping Congo's agricultural development achieve quality upgrading.