August 22nd 2024-The Finance Center for South-South Cooperation (FCSSC), Chinese Academy of Financial Inclusion (CAFI) and Kenya Chinese Chamber of Commerce jointly organized the “Seminar on China-Africa Cooperation in Sustainable Agriculture in the Context of Climate Change” in Nairobi, Kenya. Representatives from domestic, international organizations such as WFP Kenya, IFPRI Kenya Office, FAO-China-Uganda, Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP), AGRA, University of Nairobi, Ergenton University, Global Organization of African Academic Doctors (OAAD), Sino-Africa Joint Research Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences (SAJOREC CAS), as well as the local fintech enterprises attended the seminar and made presentation. The seminar mainly focused on the impact that climate change has brought to the agricultural sustainability in Africa, as well as the successful experience and cases in China-Africa cooperation in the fields of agricultural technology and sustainable investment.
The opening speeches were delivered by Dr. Wu Zhong, Director General of FCSSC, Mr. He Qinwen, Secretary General of Kenya Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Pius Rotich, General Manager of Kenya Investment Authority respectively. Dr. Wu emphasized that in light of the challenges posed by climate change, strengthening China-Africa cooperation in sustainable agriculture is crucial. This involves leveraging agricultural technology innovation, technology transfer, capacity building and other approaches to promote climate-smart and sustainable agriculture while continually deepening dialogues among Global South, to address the challenges together.
Here are the key perspectives of the experts:
- Clemens Breisinger Senior Reaserch Fellow, IFPRI Kenya Office
Breisinger suggests that the overall impact of climate change on African agriculture is negative, but varies by region and crop species.Adaptive measures to mitigate the impacts require a substantial increase in public and private investments.In addition, an enabling policy and business environment is key for successful adaptation and food system transformation.
- Zhang Xiaoqiang Head of Agriculture Expert Group, FAO-China-Uganda South-South Cooperation Project
Zhang highlights the achievements in the three phases of FAO-China-Uganda South-South Cooperation Project, while elaborating on the challenges encountered during this process, such as funding gaps, long benefit realization cycle, and language barriers.He also makes strategic recommendations for sustainable development of agriculture in Africa under the background of climate change, including introducing drought-resistant crop species, effective agricultural practices, farming-system reformation, and promoting environmentally friendly technologies such as biodegradation.
- Vandana Thottoli Dutch Fund for Climate and Development
Thottoli mentions a phenomenon of mismatching between funding supply and project demand in African agricultural financing. Taking the Fund that he works for as an example,Thottoli believes that it is a feasible path to design and adopt a blended financing model that mobilize both public and private capital by matching resources with small farmers, conducting market research and feasibility analysis, and shortlisting projects that can be invested in.
- Michael Murigi Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator, Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP)
Murigi indicates that in terms of global partnerships, it is necessary to increase the climate funding and financing, ultimately enabling local farmers, especially helping women to gain access to climate-resilient crop varieties, to agricultural technologies and related inputs. Meanwhile, it is important to enhance their information access abilities to better cope with the risks of climate change.
- Charlotte Arinaitwe Individual Consultant
Arinaitwe points out that the initial costs of promoting climate-smart agricultural practices are high, especially for smallholder farmers.Hence, credit, insurance, and education should be provided to improve their awareness, willingness, and ability to actively apply such climate-smart agricultural practices.She also highlights that whether or not farmers have land ownership or not is a key factor in the success of promoting such agricultural practices.
- Wang Xinxi Economist Consultant, World Bank Group
Taking a World Bank-funded project in Huangshan, China as an example, Wang suggests that integrated projects involving agriculture and other elements, through a cross-sectoral and cross-industry integration approach, can bring economic, environmental, and social benefits. Eco-tourism based on local agriculture and the accompanying improvements in infrastructure, organization and human resources will contribute to the establishment of a systemic economic environment and a climate-resilient society.
- He Qinwen Secretary General, Kenya Chinese General Chamber of Commerce
He puts forward several suggestions for agricultural development in Kenya, including the introduction of suitable staple food grains, such as high-yielding yellow maize and potatoes; the introduction of commercial crop varieties, such as Juncao, which can be used as green feed for the livestock industry, while also increasing farmers' income. In addition, bearing in mind the principle of "teaching one to fish is better than giving him fish", organizing Chinese agricultural experts to carry out capacity-building activities for local agricultural practitioners.
- Liu Yutao Associate Professor, Nanjing Agricultural University; Chinese Director, Egerton University Confucius Institute
Liu shares the long-term practical experience and cooperation between Nanjing Agricultural University and Egerton University in promoting sustainable agriculture in Africa, including cultivating and introducing seeds of climate-smart crops, such as beans, cassava, peanuts, etc.; providing agricultural training for local smallholder farmers, especially for young people and women, to challenge the notion that advanced technology only exists in large-scale farms; placing great importance on long-term solutions, establishing a joint laboratory so that local experts can conduct agricultural technology research, and continuing to cultivate local agricultural talent to truly contribute to local development.
- Laura Barasa Senior Lecturer, University of Nairobi
Based on her research on urban farming and food security, Laura Barasa explains the necessity and feasibility of developing agriculture in informal settlements using circular economy approaches. Local innovative solutions for Kenyan slums – growing crops in slums, and using waste compost to create natural fertilizers – can help improve food security and the livelihoods of residents, while also addressing environmental issues.
- Yu Haifeng Engineer, Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yu states that the Center primarily focuses on food security, biodiversity, ecological protection, and disaster preparedness. Agricultural experts and private enterprises are encouraged to participate in research on new crop varieties and their promotion in Kenya. He has identified several practices that enhance the sustainability of local agriculture: selecting self-replicating crops, promoting the cultivation of Juncao, advocating for affordable and simple tools to support small-scale farming, and striving to reduce post-harvest food waste while diversifying staple food sources.
- Liu Zhixian Executive Vice President, Yuelu Mountain Seed Industry Innovation Center
Liu demonstrates the high-pressure cloud cultivation technology designed to address agricultural drought issues in the context of climate change. This technology involves atomizing a nutrient solution into micron-sized mist droplets, which are precisely sprayed in intermittent bursts onto the root system of plants. This method provides the necessary water and nutrients needed for plant growth, significantly increases crop yields, and accelerates crop development.
- Elijah ODII Chairman, Global Organization of African Academic Doctors (OAAD)
ODII emphasizes the importance of adhering to a “people-oriented” principle in sustainable agricultural practices and cooperation. He advocated for conducting research to understand local cultural traditions and the specific circumstances before establishing a long-term public communication mechanism to identify effective solutions. His organization collaborates with over 50 countries, including China, to build capacity for climate prediction, thereby enhancing collective efforts to combat global climate change.
- Cheng Cheng China Partnership Project Director, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Cheng stresses that the concept of “food sovereignty” should be noticed, and the resource endowments of each country should be respected. He adds that each country has the freedom to choose what crops are suitable for their specific conditions, rather than being compelled to engage in the extensive cultivation of any staple food crop. Additionally, he notes that agricultural investment should transcend national borders. For Chinese companies to invest successfully, they must consider the circumstances of several neighboring African countries and engage in comprehensive planning.
