Farming centers expand crop yields, offer training

Experts say Chinese agricultural demonstration centers have significantly helped train personnel and increase crop production, but their performance could be improved through a better understanding of African countries' needs and situations.

Chen Hualin, director of the China-Tanzania Agricultural Demonstration Center, the first one, said they have trained about 1,200 technicians and farmers at the center and 2,450 farmers in the local community.

Using a Chinese rice variety and technology, Chen said, the center can produce 8 to 10 metric tons of rice per hectare, compared with 2 to 4.5 tons in local production. The center produces 1 to 2 more tons of corn per hectare than is locally produced.