Setting an example: rice farmers in China

Flickr/Richo in HK

George Marechera, an agribusiness specialist at the AATF, told SciDev.Net that African small-scale farmers face similar challenges to Chinese farmers and can learn from their success.

He says that technology and skills will be transferred from China to Africa by 14 demonstration centres being established in African countries. These focus on effective small farmer technologies like seed development, improved fertiliser and education.

In Mozambique, a 52 hectare agricultural demonstration centre is planned west of Maputo, at Boane. The Stellenbosch report says crops will be planted this year and Chinese technicians will test whether the Mozambican climate is suitable for various varieties of seeds, including maize, rice, vegetables and fruit.

In Uganda's capital, Kampala, Chinese contractors are building an aquaculture demonstration centre. Fish is a staple protein in Uganda, with many people subsisting on the fast-diminishing stocks in Lake Victoria.

The challenge for Africa, says the report, will be using the technologies without much policy support. "Few African governments prioritise agriculture in their policies, spending or attention," write the authors.

A key element of Chinese agricultural success, they say, was sharing finance between rural and urban environments. In Africa, urban areas have received the lion's share of government funding.

The research will feed into the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation, to take place in Cairo, Egypt, in October.

Link to section of the report by University of Stellenbosch[2.19MB]