Promotion of Chinese Agricultural Technology in Africa to improve Local Food and Nutrition Security

Rome, October 24 (Xinhua) on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Jin Zhongzhen, an official in charge of South-South cooperation of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, said that South-South cooperation has shown a tendency to play a greater role after years of development. In particular, China has played a huge role in South-South cooperation in recent years, significantly promoting the further development of South-South cooperation.

Jin Zhongzhen, Director of the Department of South-South Cooperation and Resource Mobilization of FAO, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua that South-South cooperation is characterized by partnership, emphasizing equality and mutual trust, mutual benefit, solidarity and mutual assistance, and that many countries actively participate in cooperation. share useful experiences, technological innovation, as well as new knowledge and ideas.

Jin Zhongzhen said that North-South cooperation also plays a role, while South-South cooperation has played and will continue to play a greater role. Judging from the current global cooperation, South-South cooperation is more effective, and there are many examples of technical cooperation. For example, in its cooperation with Nigeria, China has successfully promoted the combination of traditional agricultural techniques and fisheries in Nigeria, resulting in a reduction in pesticide use and a substantial increase in output, thus promoting the sustainable development of agriculture and the environment.

Jin Zhongzhen said that through the South-South Cooperation Program led by FAO, the traditional Chinese agricultural technology of raising fish in rice fields has been introduced by Nigeria. The Nigerian government supports the project through a trust fund, and Chinese experts are experimenting and conducting technical training in many places in Nigeria. In some demonstration areas, rice and tilapia production has almost doubled, benefiting small farmers.

Jin Zhongzhen, an expert on agricultural economics in FAO, said that Nigeria has improved food and nutritional security through the introduction of technology through South-South cooperation. Practice has proved that rural poverty has been reduced through rice and fish farming, and local consumers have also received high-quality food supplies. The net income of small farmers participating in the project increased by 29% to 96%. This successful experience has also been extended to Sierra Leone and Mali.

Jin Zhongzhen said: over the past 10 years, the China-Nepal South-South Cooperation Program has benefited more than 1 million people. Since 2003, nearly 700 Chinese experts have been sent to Nigeria for two years or more to teach new technologies such as irrigation, crop production and aquaculture.

On China's contribution to South-South cooperation, Jin Zhongzhen said: since 1996, the cooperation between China and FAO in the field of South-South cooperation has been fruitful, sending more than 1000 agrotechnical experts to 25 countries and regions, with the largest number in the African region. transfer more than 400 technologies to African countries. China's outstanding performance will promote South-South cooperation.