Celebrating 100th anniversary of CPC | China's four decades of assistance make Africa rich in rice

The China-Guinea-Bissau Agricultural Technical Cooperation Project (ATCP), part of China's agriculture assistance under the framework of South-South Cooperation, has now lasted four decades. 

In the past 40 years, the project has provided more than 1,400 tons of pesticides and fertilizers, sent 110 Chinese agricultural experts, and trained over 100,000 local people in technologies. With China's assistance, the number of rice demonstration sites has increased to 11 from four and more than 200 sets of various agricultural machinery have been offered, while the area of planted rice expanded to 100,000 hectares.

Thirty-six excellent rice varieties have been also introduced and bred, increasing yields from 1.2 tons per hectare to 4.5 tons per hectare. 

The ATCP has greatly promoted the development of local agriculture and has been well received by the governments and people of both countries.

After evaluation by UN experts, the project became a typical case of effectiveness and experience of foreign agricultural assistance released to the world by the UN Development Program. The Chinese agricultural experts were awarded the "Agricultural Development Contribution Award" by the government of Guinea-Bissau and received a collective honorary certificate.