Vigorously Promoting Poverty Reduction and Development in Africa (New Era China Africa Cooperation) Africa | China | Process
During this year's harvest season, Hu Yuefang, a Chinese hybrid rice technology expert, exchanged ideas with local farmers in the experimental field of the African branch of the National Hybrid Rice Engineering and Technology Research Center in the town of Mayiqi near the capital of Madagascar, Tananarivo.
Photo by Sitaka Rajonaritson
Development is an eternal theme of human society and a common aspiration of people from all countries. China fully promotes the implementation of global development initiatives, actively aligns with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union's 2063 Agenda, and the development strategies of African countries, with a focus on helping Africa cultivate endogenous growth capacity, innovates development cooperation concepts and methods, and vigorously promotes poverty reduction and development in Africa.
Assist in increasing rice yield in Africa
In May this year, Madagascar ushered in a bountiful harvest season. In the village of Andranuwaki in the town of Mayiqi near the capital city of Tananarivo, Herizo Rangliantena is harvesting rice in his own rice field. "This year's harvest is very good!" said Landria Nantena excitedly. After planting hybrid rice for 5 years, their whole family can not only have enough to eat, but also have surplus food for sale. "By planting Chinese hybrid rice, we have moved into a new house. This year, our family also bought 4 calves and 3 pigs."
The African branch of the China National Hybrid Rice Engineering Technology Research Center was officially unveiled in Mayiqi Town in May 2019. The main goal of the center is to select hybrid rice varieties that are suitable for local cultivation in Africa with high yield, high quality, and multi resistance, in order to increase the yield of local rice in Africa. Local rice farmers can visit and consult the center at any time, and the center will also organize training during key periods of rice cultivation such as germination, sowing, whole field transplantation, and harvesting. Landria Nantena is a frequent visitor to the center, and under the guidance of Chinese experts, he has learned a lot of practical techniques. It is reported that the center has trained over 300 local farmers through classroom lectures, field practices, and other forms.
Raharinomena, former Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Madagascar, stated that China is a pioneer in the field of global hybrid rice research and appreciates China's important contributions to the breeding of hybrid rice in Madagascar and the development of agriculture in Africa.
Burundi, located in the middle of the African continent, has abundant rainfall, which is suitable for rice planting. However, the unit yield of local rice varieties is not high, and rice fields in some places often suffer from rice blast. The Chinese expert team went deep into the fields of Burundi, covering 15 rice growing provinces, and successfully introduced 8 suitable rice varieties, which solved the historical problem of yield reduction or even no harvest in the local mountain areas. "By strengthening cooperation between both parties, we have the potential to reduce the cost of rice production and enable farmers to gain greater profits. China's use of agricultural technology to assist precision poverty alleviation is a beneficial inspiration for developing countries," said Kenyan international expert Kavins Adhill.
"Many African countries benefit from China's hybrid rice technology," said Maria Gustava, Mozambique's ambassador to China. China continues to help African countries improve agricultural productivity and help local people overcome poverty by sharing crop cultivation technology with African countries. This aid model focuses on effectiveness and enhances the production capacity of farmers themselves.
African high-quality agricultural products entering the Chinese market
Agriculture is a pillar industry in most African countries, and food security is related to Africa's poverty alleviation process and stable development. China supports the development of modern agriculture in Africa, forming a complete system of breeding, planting, processing, warehousing, and logistics, creating characteristic industries for animal husbandry and economic crops, enhancing food security capabilities, and improving the safety and added value of agricultural products and food.
In the eastern province of Mpumalanga in South Africa, a revolutionary agricultural production cooperation is fully underway. Private farmer Prali has signed a contract with COFCO International Limited, an overseas platform of COFCO Group Limited, to store all the corn produced in silo bags provided by COFCO International, and then transport them to mechanized loading and unloading silos. These silos have functions such as insulation, drying, and pest control, which can greatly reduce the loss of crops during storage.
"Collaborating with COFCO International can provide timely and valuable market information." Prali explained, "The prices in the grain market fluctuate greatly, and the information provided by COFCO International will effectively reduce the risks brought by market fluctuations." During the production stage, based on global market price dynamics and climate change warning information, COFCO International will work together with local farmers to develop quarterly production plans; During the sales phase, they will also closely monitor global price changes and help farmers sell their food at the right time to ensure their profits.
"In recent years, China Africa agricultural cooperation has shown a new trend, with China actively encouraging enterprises to import non resource products from Africa, and more and more green and high-quality African agricultural products entering the Chinese market." Yuan Xiaohui, Deputy Director of the West Asia and Africa Research Institute of the International Trade and Economic Cooperation Research Institute of the Ministry of Commerce of China, said that in the past five years, the average growth rate of China's import of African agricultural products has reached 11.4%, and China has become the second largest destination country for African agricultural product exports.
In May 2020, Rwandan Ambassador to China Kimonio first endorsed his hometown's specialty through live streaming, and 3000 pounds of Rwandan coffee sold out instantly in the live broadcast room. Afterwards, Kimonio visited live streaming rooms and television programs on various e-commerce platforms multiple times, promoting agricultural products such as Rwandan coffee and chili peppers. Coffee from Ethiopia, chili sauce from Rwanda, black tea from Kenya, chocolate from Ghana, cashews from Tanzania... A large number of African products have entered millions of households in China through cross-border e-commerce platforms.
"China's import of non resource products from Africa can fundamentally help African farmers solve poverty problems." Jing Jianhua, founder of the chain brand Xiaokazhu Coffee Co., Ltd., has been committed to introducing high-quality coffee from Africa since the early stages of his entrepreneurship, helping more African coffee farmers increase their income while creating a Chinese coffee brand.
The "Hundred Enterprises and Thousand Villages" campaign benefits people's livelihoods
At 9am in Katis Village, Kenya, villager Pennina arrived at a small blue and gray house by the road, opened the door, turned on the power of the water pump, and heard the sound of water flowing from the roof water storage tank. In no time, the villagers began to pull small donkeys carrying yellow water cans to fetch water.
"This is a well dug by the Swack Dam project for our village, which is 250 meters deep. The water here is very precious and a common property of the village." Pennina is currently appointed by the village to manage the well house. The well house is open from 9am to 5pm, and villagers can freely fetch water.
The Swak Dam project is constructed by China Energy Construction Gezhouba Group and is the flagship project for Kenya to achieve its 2030 Vision Plan and the "Four Development Goals". It is also the largest comprehensive water conservancy hub project currently under construction in Kenya, integrating dams, water supply, irrigation, and power generation. This well house is one of the six new well houses built for free by the dam project department for nearby villages. After being put into use in October 2022, the water supply problem of over 200 households in Katis Village has been solved.
The poverty reduction and agricultural benefits project is one of the nine projects jointly implemented by China and African countries. According to the plan, China will assist in implementing 10 poverty reduction and agricultural projects in Africa, dispatch 500 agricultural experts, establish a group of Sino African modern agricultural technology exchange demonstration and training joint centers in China, encourage Chinese institutions and enterprises to build demonstration villages for agricultural development and poverty reduction in Africa, and support the launch of the "Hundred Enterprises and Thousand Villages" campaign by the China Enterprise Social Responsibility Alliance in Africa.
"Under the framework of poverty reduction and agricultural benefits projects, China and Africa have carried out extensive cooperation." Yuan Xiaohui said that shortly after the announcement of the "nine projects," in December 2021, the first four Sino African modern agricultural technology exchange demonstration and training joint centers were listed in China; The agricultural technology demonstration center assisted by China in Nigeria was also successfully completed to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and officially handed over in December 2022; China's aid to non-agricultural sectors continues to expand throughout the entire industry chain, including agricultural product processing.
China actively provides food aid to African countries in need and has initiated the construction of 13 demonstration villages for agricultural development and poverty reduction in Central Africa. The China Africa Enterprise Social Responsibility Alliance has promoted the implementation of hundreds of social responsibility projects in 44 African countries. Chinese enterprises are also conducting extensive agricultural technology investment and training in Africa, improving Africa's position in the global value chain and making positive contributions to the development of Africa's agricultural industry and poverty reduction.
The Vice Chairman of the African Union Commission, Monica Ensanzabaganva, appreciates China's efforts in poverty reduction. "In the field of poverty reduction and development, China's achievements inspire African countries, and China's poverty reduction experience is worth learning from." She said that through deepening practical cooperation with China, African countries have achieved significant results in agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises, digitalization, and other fields, with a good development momentum.
