2019 overseas training course on practical technology of high-yield corn concludes in Benin

The 2019 overseas training course on practical technology of high-yield corn successfully ended in the Republic of Benin on Sept 21.

Zhang Bohui, minister counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Benin, Francoise Assogba Komlan, secretary general of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fishery of Benin, and Tan Xinghua, director of the Agricultural Demonstration Center of Chinese Assistance to Benin attended the ceremony and presented the certificates of completion to trainees. Li Haiyan, director of the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, presided over the ceremony. 

Zhang Bohui (middle), minister counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Benin, delivers a speech.[Photo/Xinhua] 

With 190 Benin students, the training was the third agricultural technology course organized by the Chinese government in Benin, said Zhang, adding that the Chinese government attaches great importance to agricultural cooperation with Benin. 

With the huge development potential of Benin's agriculture and Chinese advanced professional technology, the prospect of agricultural cooperation between the two countries is broad, said Zhang. 

Zhang also pointed out that the agricultural training courses provided by China echo the Benin "Revitalization Plan" proposed by the Benin government. He said he hopes the training course will be a good platform to promote China-Benin agricultural cooperation and help Benin improve its agricultural level.

Komlan thanked the Chinese government for the training courses and assistance to Benin, adding that Chinese experts have brought Chinese most practical agricultural technology to the country and the trainees should put the learned technology into practice. 

The fruitful cooperation in agriculture between the two countries is conducive to exploring the development potential of Benin's agriculture and promoting the economic development of Benin, said Komlan.

A representative trainee said that before taking the training course she did not pay much attention to corn sowing. However, after the course, she mastered standard corn planting technology, and the yield of corn increased effectively. 

Another representative trainee said that he learned a lot of practical technologies about corn planting, and wants to apply them to increase corn production. 

The members of the 2019 overseas training course on practical technology of high-yield corn pose for a group photo. [Photo/Xinhua] 

Benin is a West African country and agriculture is an important pillar of its economic development.

In 2006, the Benin government proposed the "Agricultural Revitalization Strategic Plan". The Chinese government organized courses in Benin to teach agricultural technology, which have been well received by the Benin side.