Celebrating 100th founding anniversary of CPC | Chinese solution helps Zimbabwean farmers eliminate poverty

A group of senior agricultural experts from China helped Zimbabwe build an agricultural demonstration village as part of Sino-Zimbabwean cooperation in Zvimba district, Masholand province, Zimbabwe in 2019. 

The expert team helped villagers improve crop cultivation techniques by sharing with them China’s rural development experiences, and guided them to raise rabbits and chicken for meat based on local conditions. These measures achieved great results.

The family of Ishaka, a 45-year-old local resident, lived in poverty, much like many of the families in his village. His wife was 40 years old and has had polio since childhood, meaning she is unable to stand and leaving Ishaka as the family’s only worker. 

Although the family has a lot of land, their crop yield was very low. The family has never had much food or clothing. Their house has nearly fallen apart due to a lack of maintenance over the years. Both of Ishaka's children have dropped out of school. 

The Chinese expert team gave the family a poverty alleviation solution combining corn growing with rabbit raising. They gave the family some corn seeds, rabbits and other farming materials, as well as helped Ishaka build rabbit pens. The team regularly visited other village households to give them technical guidance.

In just one and a half years, Ishaka's life has undergone a radical change. The family had a bumper corn harvest, meaning they finally had food to eat. Raising rabbits to sell for meat has increased their incomes. They’ve repaired their house and their children have gone back to school. Ishaka asked the expert team to paint the “CHINA AID” logo on the wall of his house to indicate his gratitude.

The story of the Ishaka family is one example of China's aid in Africa. The agricultural expert team will continue to work closely with the Zimbabwean government and people and make even more efforts to provide solutions for the sustainable development of agriculture and poverty alleviation in the country.