Africa gains from Chinese rice technology

China has been transferring modern rice cultivation technologies to African countries for years, addressing food security concerns and promoting agricultural development. This effort has become vital to fighting hunger and poverty and boosting China-Africa relations.

Through decades of research and invention, China’s rice farming expertise has increased crop yields and agricultural sustainability. Working with African partners, Chinese agricultural experts have introduced high-yielding rice cultivars, novel farming methods, and efficient irrigation systems customised to local conditions.

“China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation Project,” which promotes rice cultivation in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, is a success story. Chinese experts provide technical support, training, and quality seeds and equipment to African farmers to boost production and livelihoods.

Several African nations have agricultural demonstration centres and research institutions thanks to China’s South-South cooperation. These centres facilitate rice production and agribusiness management best practices through knowledge exchange, experimentation, and capacity-building.

Read also: Nigeria Partners With Swiss Manufacturer Bühler To Increase Rice Production

How it all began 

In China’s vast group of rice farmers, Hu Fengyi is one of the few.

Over the past 20 years, the plant scientist at Yunnan University has been very focused on exploring the possibilities of an African perennial rice type that can be harvested more than once, which saves money on labour.

Perennial rice has received less academic attention than hybrid and other high-yield cultivars.

“There are lots of researchers studying rice in China, and if your research is mainstream, you can compare notes with your fellow researchers,” he stated.

Perennial rice is so understudied that collaboration is complex to accelerate progress. “You have to feel the way forward in the darkness,” said Hu.

Hu and his colleagues have tried and failed to combine perennial varieties with common ones. They have now created three hybrid varieties that can grow past the normal life cycle of rice and give stable amounts when grown in the right conditions.

After decades of development, only three hybrid rice types have been certified for commercial production nationwide, a testament to rice experts’ solitary effort. She said, “To make it, we had to sit on a cold bench,” a Chinese term for being left out. “We’ve learned to withstand solitude.”

In honour of his college, Hu called his hybrids Yunda 107 and Yunda 25. During a three-year study, Yunda 25 produced 5.5 to 6.5 metric tonnes per hectare and was pest-resistant, reducing pesticide use.

“It is not unlike rolling out new car models,” Hu remarked of the perennial types’ improved attributes. “You can add functions to newer models and improve existing ones.”

Perennial rice, says Hu, is less labour-intensive and more environmentally friendly because farmers do not need to plant it annually. “The soil conditions are less disturbed physically and chemically,” he stated.

China and its rice-producing neighbours have embraced perennial rice very swiftly. The number of perennial kinds planted in 2020 was fewer than 4,000 hectares, but by 2021 it reached 15,500.

Perennial rice expansion reflects China’s tech-driven effort to improve agricultural productivity and secure critical food supply in Africa.

Read also: Nigeria, Ghana forge agricultural partnership for rice, wheat farming

The impact of China’s rice technology

China’s rice technology transfer helps achieve sustainable development goals beyond economic rewards. China promotes climate-smart agriculture and resource-efficient farming methods, including precision irrigation and integrated pest management, to reduce environmental degradation and increase African agricultural resilience to climate change.

Furthermore, inclusive growth and the eradication of poverty are made possible by China and Africa’s joint efforts in rice technology. Smallholder farmers, who make up a large part of rural communities, gain from greater market access, income, and food security, boosting social stability and prosperity.

China and African nations must continue to work together to overcome infrastructural, policy, and institutional impediments. These obstacles must be overcome to maximise China’s rice technology transfer and ensure its long-term impact on Africa’s agricultural growth.

In summary, China’s rice technology is empowering farmers, improving food security, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices—all of which are critical to feeding Africa’s needs. China and Africa are building a mutually beneficial alliance that could improve Africa’s agriculture industry through strategic partnerships and knowledge-sharing.