New agricultural cooperation platform established between China, Kenya

A new platform of agricultural cooperation between China and Kenya has been established and is expected to improve modern agricultural technology and agricultural talent cultivation in the East African country.

Shennong Institute of Agriculture, jointly established in Nairobi, Kenya by Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry, and Foison Agribusiness, a subsidiary of Sino Excellence Group, both based in China's Jiangsu province, last week, will also be involved in providing vocational training to agricultural technicians in Kenya, and providing technical consultancy to Chinese agricultural enterprises operating in Kenya.

Yan Zhiming, president of College of Agronomy and Horticulture, at Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry, said agriculture is a major sector in Kenya, but the country lacks sophisticated agricultural technology and talent for modern agriculture, which poses an obstacle to the increase of productivity.

"With the establishment of Shennong Institute of Agriculture, we can introduce new agricultural species, technology and equipment into Kenya, and can breed more local talents that excel in farming technics, operating advanced machinery and managerial skills by attracting Kenya students to our college to study and organizing training sessions locally," he said.

Xu Zhuowei, representative from Sino Excellence Group, said the establishment of the institute serves the demand from Kenya for farming technology, management and new equipment.

Yang Guangrong, president of the college's School of International Education, said the college is planning to ally with 30 other agricultural colleges and research institutes in China as well as 50 agricultural enterprises in China and abroad to build more similar institutes overseas to aid agricultural development in these countries.

The alliance, once established, will conduct extensive international cooperation including recruiting overseas students to China to study agriculture, sending agricultural assistance experts and technicians overseas, establishing talent cultivation bases overseas, and engaging in agricultural research and innovation, Yang said.

Agriculture is a major area for China-Africa cooperation, with China having been actively supporting the agricultural development of African countries to help them improve food security over the past decades.

During a summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2018, China announced it would support Africa's efforts to achieve food security by 2030 with measures including carrying out major agricultural assistance programs and sending 500 high-level agricultural experts to Africa for technical guidance.