Chinese farming model benefits Global South

Beyond Africa

The overseas expansion of the STB model is increasingly connected with Chinese companies operating in agricultural markets abroad, Zhang said.

A banana company based in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, has established operations in Laos, where an STB program has brought in researchers and graduate students to help adapt production technologies to local conditions, improve yields and increase returns for farmers.

In other parts of the Global South, the emphasis is shifting from producing more food to generating higher incomes.

"In Southeast Asia, farmers are more focused on increasing income," Jiao said. "There we work with cash crops such as oil palm and rubber, helping farmers improve crop quality, reduce inputs and achieve sustainable development."

The model is designed to remain flexible rather than impose a standardized package of Chinese agricultural practices.

In Brazil, where family farms face labor and productivity constraints, Chinese and Brazilian agricultural authorities and universities have established STBs in Brasilia and Rio Grande do Norte. Their work includes machinery testing and maintenance, technology promotion and personnel training.

Chinese agricultural machinery is increasingly being used by Brazilian farmers, and the cooperation is expected to raise grain output among smallholder family farms by about 40 percent, according to the project.

The global spread of the STB model seeks to combine Chinese agricultural experience with local knowledge, technologies and talent, experts said.

For Zhang, the ultimate goal is not simply to help farmers produce more, but to enable countries in the Global South to develop their own capacity for agricultural innovation and poverty reduction.

"More importantly, it helps farmers build confidence and stimulates their internal motivation, enabling them to support themselves without relying on others," he said.

Contact the writers at zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn