China-supported seminar equips Tanzanian farmers with easy-to-use agricultural techniques

In Morogoro region of Tanzania, agricultural extension agent Veronica presented buckets of home-made soybean milk, drawing local residents to have a taste.

Impressed by the drink, many asked how it is made.

"I learned it at a program organized by Chinese government," she said. "We can make delicious soybean milk at home with simple tools."

The program she mentioned was the Seminar on Comprehensive Agricultural Technologies in Tanzania: Small Technology, Big Harvest — co-organized by China's Ministry of Commerce and China Agricultural University (CAU).

During the 17-day seminar at Mzumbe University, 30 agricultural extension agents and technology officers from 10 Morogoro districts and counties participated in learning crop cultivation, food processing, e-commerce and other skills. They also learned how to operate agricultural machines and how to make soybean milk and tofu.

"Under the guidance of Chinese tutors, we mastered the soybean milk making method," Veronica said. "We are actively promoting the method to farmers, so more Tanzanian people can enjoy this nutritious drink," she explained.

Tofu-making is relatively more complex, with strict requirements for soy milk concentration and the proportion of coagulants. "I am working hard on this and hope to master this technique as soon as possible," she added.

Simple agricultural machines introduced by the Chinese team, such as small seeders and portable corn threshers, also left a deep impression on participants.

"In the past, farmers mainly relied on manual sowing and threshing, which was time-consuming and tiring," said a local agricultural technology officer. "Now, with the help of small seeders and portable corn threshers, they can work easily and efficiently."

He also praised the lightweight, easy operation and affordable price of these small machines.

Since 2011, CAU Professor Li Xiaoyun has carried out the "Small Technology, Big Harvest" program in Morogoro, focusing on increasing corn yields through dense planting technology.

In 2021, the program was upgraded to "Small Bean, Big Nutrition", with the CAU team starting to promote technologies such as corn-soybean intercropping and soybean.

"Corn-soybean intercropping has been widely and successfully applied in China and is well suited to Tanzania's corn-based farming system," Li said.

"Growing soybeans can improve soil fertility, thereby increasing the corn yields. Soybean milk can supply nutrition, such as protein, to farmers, enhancing farmers' nutrition and overall health," Li added.

"The seminar offers all the necessary agricultural lectures from seed selection and planting to processing and sale, catering to local needs," said Xu Jin, an associate professor of CAU.

"Small technologies that are low-cost and easily replicable triggered the keen interest of the seminar participants," said Li Li, one of the lecturers at the seminar and an associate professor of CAU. "They hope to learn these technologies to increase crop yields and their incomes."

An official from the region lauded the seminar for its far-reaching impact. "The seminar has brought Chinese agricultural technologies to Tanzanian farmers through lectures and field practices, promoting the modernization of Tanzania's agriculture," said Mussa Ali Mussa, Morogoro regional administrative secretary.

He also expressed hope for closer cooperation with China in agricultural technology training and talent cultivation, in a bid to help Tanzania achieve sound development in agriculture and rural areas.