An African Union agency dedicated to capacity building has lauded China’s recent commitment to bolster Africa’s agricultural sector and tackle climate change challenges.
At the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Beijing last week, China pledged to enhance its collaboration with Africa by implementing ten partnership initiatives over the next three years. These initiatives aim to further develop Africa’s agricultural industry through the construction of standardized agricultural demonstration centers, the deployment of Chinese agricultural experts, and the establishment of a China-Africa agricultural scientific and technological innovation alliance.
Mamadou Biteye, executive secretary of the Harare-based African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), expressed optimism about the benefits of this partnership. In a recent interview, he stated, “China is a very important partner to Africa especially as we come out of the FOCAC Summit and some important announcements have been made. This includes capacity building through the deployment of Chinese experts to support agricultural productivity in Africa.”
Biteye highlighted that China’s continued support for Africa’s infrastructure development, particularly in climate-resilient infrastructure, is crucial for the continent’s efforts to modernize and combat the effects of climate change. “China can share its experiences in agricultural development, including research on developing new varieties of crops, such as drought-resistant rice and other food crops, which can adapt well and provide high yields to support the growth of Africa’s agriculture sector,” he said.
He added that increased Chinese support in agriculture could help Africa reduce its food import bill and enable the continent to achieve food sovereignty. “Innovation and knowledge sharing are extremely important, and I believe these are critical areas where China can play a leading role in Africa,” Biteye noted.
The ACBF is set to hold its 10th Africa Think Tank Summit, focusing on strategies for sustainable climate financing in Africa, from October 8 to 11 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. According to Biteye, there is a need for institutional and policy strengthening in Africa to ensure that the continent can effectively utilize climate financing resources.
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AU agency welcomes China's support for African agricultural industry
cgtn.com
