On the African continent, there is a small country known as the "Land of the Heart" – Burundi. The country is rich in natural resources and has good agricultural conditions, but it suffers from poverty and hunger.
In order to help the people of Burundi improve their lives, since 2009, China** and experts have been carrying out agricultural technical cooperation projects in Burundi, introducing and promoting hybrid rice planting technology, which has greatly increased the rice yield in Burundi and made important contributions to local food security and economic development.
However, this act of kindness has been criticized and smeared by some Western countries, who believe that China is using Burundi to achieve its own strategic interests, weaken Western influence in Africa, and even threaten Western values of democracy and human rights. These accusations and smears are untenable and disrespectful to the friendly cooperation between China and Burundi.
Burundi is a landlocked country located in east-central Africa, with an area of 27,834 square kilometers and a population of about 12 million. Burundi's climate is suitable for agricultural production, and rice is one of the main foods of the local people, but due to historical and practical reasons, rice production in Burundi has been at a low level.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in 2019, the area under rice cultivation in Burundi was 1260,000 hectares with a total yield of 2770,000 tons, with an average yield of only 220 kilograms per mu, far below the African average of 400 kilograms, not to mention the world average of 700 kilograms.
The main reason for the low rice yield in Burundi is the lack of high-quality rice varieties, and the farmers mostly keep the seeds for themselves, and the seed purity is not high, which is manifested in uneven plant height, weak stems, poor disease resistance and low yield.
There is also a lack of effective fertilizer inputs, chemical fertilizers are all imported, expensive, subsidies are insufficient, farmers apply very little, and some even do not apply chemical fertilizers, resulting in a decline in soil fertility and affecting rice growth. Lack of standardized cultivation technology, low seedling raising technology, non-standard planting, lack of effective field management, such as water control, weed control, pest control, etc., resulting in poor growth of rice and reduced yield.
In addition, there is a lack of advanced agricultural equipment, cultivation and harvesting almost all rely on manpower, and the abundant animal resources have not been exploited and utilized, resulting in low labor efficiency and increased production costs.
In order to help Burundi solve the problem of rice production, increase rice production and improve people's livelihood, Chinese experts have been carrying out agricultural technical cooperation projects in Burundi since 2009 to introduce and promote hybrid rice planting technology.
Hybrid rice is an effective way to improve rice yield by using the heterosis of rice to breed new varieties with high yield, high quality and stress resistance. China is the birthplace of hybrid rice and the main producer of hybrid rice, China's hybrid rice technology is at the leading level in the world, and has been successfully promoted in many African countries, contributing to local food security and agricultural development.
China's rice planting project in Burundi is mainly implemented by the China-aided Burundi Senior Agricultural Expert Group, which is composed of 7 agricultural experts and 2 French interpreters, who provide a full range of technical support and services for Burundi in the fields of rice planting, soil and fertilizer, agricultural product processing, agricultural machinery and other aspects.
The main work of the expert group is to introduce and test new varieties, screen out hybrid rice varieties suitable for Burundi, and carry out large-scale demonstration and promotion. According to China's rice planting experience, the expert group has introduced 16 new varieties for testing and demonstration, with a demonstration area of 8,950 mu of hybrid rice, among which "Chuanxiangyou 506" hybrid rice has officially passed the national variety examination and approval of Burundi, becoming the first hybrid rice variety in Burundi, which is welcomed by local farmers.
It is necessary to compile and disseminate technical regulations to improve the technical level of rice cultivation among Burundian peasant households and to solve various production problems. The expert group has completed 37 technical specifications and opinions, including the technical regulations for hybrid rice cultivation in the plains of Burundi, and solved various problems such as low variety production capacity, poor seedling quality, non-standard cultivation, low fertilization level, and serious weed damage.
Various training activities will also be organized to train Burundi's rice planting technicians and improve local technology dissemination capacity. The expert group held 37 trainings of various types, including theoretical Xi and field demonstrations, and trained 2,420 people, involving agricultural **, agricultural technicians and ordinary farmers.
In addition, some local outstanding young people have followed Chinese experts to learn Xi the whole production process and become promoters and disseminators of hybrid rice.
China's rice planting project in Burundi has not only improved the yield and quality of local rice, but also promoted the development of the local agricultural industry chain, making a positive contribution to Burundi's food security and economic growth. According to the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock of Burundi, in 2019, Burundi's total rice production reached 3850,000 tons, an increase of 10 from 201880,000 tons, an increase of 39%.
The increase in rice production and income has also brought more income to local farmers, improving their living standards and welfare. At the same time, China's rice planting project in Burundi has also promoted local agricultural technology innovation and talent training, and improved the local agricultural science and technology level and independent development capacity.
Chinese experts not only taught advanced hybrid rice planting technology, but also trained a group of local hybrid rice technical talents, laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of Burundi's rice industry. The agricultural cooperation between China and Burundi is based on the common interests and development needs of both sides, and is sincere, equal and mutually beneficial.
The agricultural cooperation between China and Burundi is a microcosm of China-Africa cooperation and a manifestation of the friendly relations between China and Africa. China has always regarded Africa as its good friend, good partner and good brother, and has always adhered to the concept of sincerity, sincerity, amity and sincerity in its policy toward Africa, adhered to the principle of justice and shared interests, and has always been committed to building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future.
China's cooperation with Africa is aimed at achieving common development and common prosperity, for the benefit of the Chinese and African people and the people of the world, for safeguarding international fairness and justice, and for promoting world peace and stability.
However, some Western countries are hostile and prejudiced against China's rice planting project in Burundi, make groundless accusations and smears against China's agricultural cooperation with Burundi, and even attempt to undermine China-Africa friendly relations. They claim that China is using Burundi to achieve its own strategic interests, to weaken the West's influence in Africa, and to threaten Western values of democracy and human rights.
China's rice planting project in Burundi is a successful case of China-Africa agricultural cooperation and a vivid portrayal of China-Africa friendly relations. This project not only contributes to Burundi's food security and economic development, but also provides experience and inspiration for China's cooperation with Africa.
China will continue to strengthen agricultural cooperation with African countries, jointly address challenges such as food security and climate change, and jointly promote agricultural modernization and rural revitalization. The cooperation between China and Africa is for the sake of common development and common prosperity. China's cooperation with Africa is sincere and equal. China's cooperation with Africa is unstoppable and unbreakable. China's cooperation with Africa is great and glorious.