Challenges

Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Angola, as important agricultural countries in the African continent, face challenges such as insufficient agricultural productivity, lack of farmer skills, and unstable vegetable supply. This includes weak infrastructure, outdated technology, vegetable supply shortages, and inefficient sales channels, which severely impact the lives and health of local residents. In response to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development , particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), this project aimed to enhance local smallholder farmers’ vegetable production skills and promote sustainable agricultural development through South-South cooperation and a triangular cooperation model, by introducing advanced high-yield vegetable cultivation technologies from China.

Toward a Solution

By improving the vegetable cultivation skills and management capabilities of smallholder farmers, the project aimed to increase vegetable production and farmers’ income, thereby reducing poverty. It also seeks to enhance vegetable supply, improve residents’ dietary habits, address malnutrition, and eliminate hunger.

To address the challenges mentioned above, the project adopts a multifaceted strategy. Coordinated by the China-Africa Innovation Cooperation Center and supported by various partners, the project forms a team consisting of Chinese agricultural experts, local technicians, and translators to provide comprehensive vegetable cultivation training to 800 smallholder farmers. Training manuals will be developed to integrate theory and practice, enhancing farmers’ cultivation skills. Additionally, 1-2 acres of vegetable cultivation demonstration sites will be set up in each of the three countries, covering a total of 5 acres, to showcase new technologies and provide farmers with hands-on learning examples. The project will also help establish three vegetable farming cooperatives and leverage local agricultural trade platforms to open new sales channels, facilitating vegetable circulation.

Throughout the project, all parties work in close collaboration. China provides the technology and expertise, while local partner organizations are responsible for coordinating local resources and organizing farmer participation. All parties jointly participate in the development of training content, the construction of demonstration sites, and the planning of cooperative operations to ensure that the project aligns with local realities. Regular meetings and communication mechanisms will be established to address issues promptly and ensure the smooth progress of the project.

The project has been highly innovative, with a training model that blends theory and practice, tailored to local conditions. The sales channels are a combination of online (including platforms like WeChat groups) and offline (such as farmers’ markets), overcoming traditional limitations. By establishing cooperatives, the project organizes scattered farmers, enhancing their market competitiveness and promoting agricultural industry upgrading. The project’s results are highly replicable. However, conditions such as local government policy support, sufficient financial investment, a well-established technical promotion system, and active farmer participation are essential for success.