Universities count fruits of success

Almost three years after two universities, one in China and the other In Tanzania, agreed to work together on research and development, the fruits of the accord are clearly visible, government officials say.

The memorandum of understanding between China Agricultural University in Beijing and Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro, aimed at supporting poverty reduction and rural agricultural development in Tanzania, was signed in March 2018.

The Morogoro Regional Secretariat, which coordinates the project, said it has increased maize productivity 50 percent, from an average 2 tons a hectare to 3 tons a hectare.

This has increased food security and income generation because the project is on course to reach 2,000 demonstration farmers, each with at least 0.4 hectare of maize field, by the end of this year.

On Jan 13 an online ceremony was conducted to acknowledge the hard work of the top 10 agricultural extension workers on the maize labor intensification project.

Speaking at the event, Emmanuel Kalobele, Morogoro's regional administrative secretary, said collaboration between the two universities had increased interaction between farmers and extension officers in his region as a result of more frequent field visits.

"Some of our agricultural and extension officers from villages were privileged to have a study tour in China and learn more on agriculture development and also a number of students and officials from China Agricultural University visited Morogoro region to evaluate our progress," Kalobele said.

Wang Ke, China's ambassador to Tanzania, said during the ceremony that such collaboration had led to an increase of Chinese investment in Tanzanian agriculture and more Tanzanian produce being exported to China

Important role

As an agricultural center in Tanzania, Morogoro has played an important role in China-Tanzania agriculture collaboration, Wang said. "The region hosts a Chinese sisal farm, with its sisal fiber being processed and exported to China. The Chinese Agriculture Technical Demonstration Center in Morogoro has also been instrumental in bringing Chinese advanced agricultural techniques to the people of Tanzania."

Wang said she hoped the project would serve as a model of collaboration that would help improve grain production and ensure food security in Tanzania.

Speaking from China, Du Taisheng, vice-president of China Agricultural University, said the award ceremony was evidence of the significant and substantial people-oriented collaboration between Tanzania and China.

"The China-Tanzania joint maize project is a success, and the cooperation between China and Tanzania is fruitful. We are happy that project farmers benefited from the increasing yield of their maize production. Under the leadership of the local government, the agricultural extension workers have played a significant role in promoting maize planting technology."

The top 10 agricultural extension workers were awarded a certificate and a motorcycle. The motorcycles would help expand their reach in far-flung areas as they share the knowledge they have acquired with more farmers, Kalobele said.

otiato@chinadaily.com.cn