GRAIN | Imprimer

China has been very busy as of late promoting hybrid rice production across the African continent. Sierra Leone is one of the principal targets. The Chinese government dispatched an expert mission to Sierra Leone in September 2002 and then again in December 2005 to "examine the possibility of establishing a technical hybrid rice research and production team in the country." Just recently, another eight-person team of Chinese experts was sent to Sierra Leone's Bo Agricultural Station, "to enhance large scale production and processing of hybrid rice in that part of the country." In addition, the Chinese government plans to send three senior scientists to Sierra Leone for six months "to train high level ministry officials and senior university students on modern rice production methods."

Nearby, in Guinea, the China State Farm and Agribusiness Corporation (CSFAC) launched the Sino-Guinea Agricultural Cooperation and Development Company and Koba Farm in collaboration with the Guinea Ministry of Agriculture. The CSFAC says it has collaborated with the China Hybrid Rice Engineering Research Center in introducing hybrid rice to Africa. According to the CSFAC, in January 2003, Chinese experts conducted hybrid rice breeding and cultivation experiments in Guinea and on April 28, "the two parties invited the Guinean Minister of Agriculture, senior officials of relevant departments, and FAO representatives to Guinea, as well as the Chinese Ambassador and commercial advisor, to inspect their hybrid high-yield rice field. All were highly impressed. Establishment of a hybrid rice cultivation center in Guinea will alleviate grain shortages in Africa and also bring the CSFAC good economic returns."

Meanwhile, in Mozambique, the Chinese government says it "plans to look at ways to help Mozambique increase its rice production, from the current 100,000 tons to 500,000 tons, following bilateral negotiations this week in Maputo. The guarantee of China’s involvement in Mozambican rice production was given by China’s deputy trade minister, Wei Jianguo, during a visit to Mozambique over the last few days." A delegation from China's Hybrid Rice Institute in Hunan were in Mozambique to consider a hybrid rice production project in Chókwe, Gaza province, southern Mozambique, one of the most fertile areas of the country..

China's mission to bring hybrid rice production to Africa