A high number of students from Africa took part in agricultural activities at an experimental base in the Quzhou county of Handan, Hebei province, China.
One of them was Samson, a student from Malawi who participated at the event with three other compatriots from Africa.
They are graduate students at Beijing’s China Agricultural University and major in resources, environmental sciences and plant protection.
According to Samson, 30, hopes he can apply the techniques learned in China to help agricultural production in his home country – Malawi.
“China’s agriculture is highly modernized, and the grain output is high. If we can bring the technologies and experience back, it will be a great help to our country’s agricultural production,” he told the Chinese media during the expo.
The three students began their study programme at the Quzhou Experimental Station of China Agricultural University last September.
In recent days, they have been occupied in Wangzhuang village, busy with the corn harvest, either threshing or recording data.
“We are acquiring many skills from the practices at the base, such as the analysis of soil samples and moisture content, the application of organic fertilisers, the determination of fertilizer nutrients, as well as mechanisation for harvesting and plowing machines,” Samson added.
According to Jiao Xiaoqiang, a professor at China Agricultural University, students from Africa are very conscientious.
“They always actively write practical notes and summarise valuable information they have seen and learned,” Jiao said.
Samson said he will study in China for two years — one year at school for college classes and another at the base for practical learning. He expects to graduate in June 2024.
“With the guidance of our tutors, we will conduct research and write theses at the base while learning how to cooperate with farmers and give agricultural training, as well as obtaining green production technology and crop planting processes,” he told the media.
At the experimental base, the students have opportunities to obtain knowledge about the various plants that the base grows, including crops like wheat and corn, fruit like apples and pears, vegetables like tomatoes and celery, as well as some commercial crops like traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and cotton.
The learning was established in 1973, and the base covers 72.5 hectares, most of which are experimental or demonstrative farming fields for multiple study subjects, such as the improvement of soil fertility, the efficient use of water resources and crop breeding, according to the base’s deputy head Zhang Hongyan.
During the past five decades, it has nurtured more than 500 graduate students in agriculture, including two university presidents and three academicians, and more than 60 students from 12 African countries.
Among the African students, 29 have received diplomas from China Agricultural University for their outstanding grades. After graduation and returning to their home countries, most of the graduates are now employed, mostly in government agricultural departments or in education, Jiao said.
He added: “Our aim is to nurture talent with practical abilities.”
