Xie Junhua teaches local farms fruit-tree grafting technique in Ethiopia’s Chencha County on September 18, 2019 (COURTESY PHOTO)

Xie Junhua, a 51-year-old fruit-tree expert and head of a Chinese expert team, received an award from Germame Garuma, Acting Minister for Agriculture of Ethiopia on August 11, for their contribution to the Ethiopian agriculture during a three-year cooperation project.

Xie, who works in Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau of Malong District in Qujing, Yunnan Province, is a senior agronomist engaged in horticulture. After graduating from university in 1994, he has been promoting fruit trees and vegetable cultivation techniques for 27 years.

In 2004, Xie participated in a three-year South-South cooperation program in Nigeria as the leader of a technical assistance team in Adamawa State. Fourteen years later, he volunteered again and was selected by the Center of International Cooperation Service of China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for the cooperation project in Ethiopia.

When he stepped on the African continent again, Xie was filled with the longing and joy of reunion. He and the eight members of the team from different regions in China gave full play to their strengths, with professional directions covering rice, wheat, cotton, vegetables, edible fungi, fruit trees and other fields.

Finding the facts

Located in eastern Africa, Ethiopia is a landlocked highland country, and agriculture plays a pivotal role in its national economic development.

"Ethiopia has a varied climate, abundant land resources, low labor costs and favorable agricultural policies. The local fruit industry has great potential for development," Xie said, noting, however, that the industry still has such shortcomings as insufficient agricultural infrastructure, lack of cultivation and management technology, and shortage of production materials.

In order to remove the constraints to the development of the local fruit industry, Xie and his team went deep into the local fruit research institutions, private farms, small and medium-sized fruit planting enterprises, fruit markets, and major apple producing areas, to carry out research.

According to Xie, the expert group produced 43 technical training materials, 25 cooperation project proposals, and 25 research reports during the three-year period.

"Through accurate data and situation analysis, the research reports point out the problems and challenges facing the fruit industry in Ethiopia and propose concrete and detailed solutions, providing the Ethiopian side with technical advice and recommendations that are relevant to the local reality," Xie noted.

Fruit farmers bring honey to Xie Junhua to express their gratitude during his research and technical guidance in Ethiopia’s Alicho County on June 13, 2019 (COURTESY PHOTO)

Carrying out demonstration

Based on the work plan and information obtained from the research, Xie, together with other experts, built a pilot site demonstrating cultivation and management techniques of edible mushroom, vegetable and fruit.

The site is built on the Menagesha Integrated Organic Farm, which is located on a plateau at an altitude of 2,590 meters, covers an area of 5.8 hectares, and has 10 production technicians, 25 permanent skilled workers and 30 seasonal workers.

In order to achieve a better demonstration effect, Xie compiled the English version of Year Round Management of Apple Orchard for local technical personnel to learn and apply.

From irrigation to fertilization, from plant diseases and insect prevention to harvest, Xie explained the different stages of the management of fruit trees in simple words, which provided clear guidance for fruit tree planting in the demonstration orchard for all seasons.

Xie carried out a series of tasks such as planning and design of the demonstration orchard, excavation of planting holes, land improvement and fertilization, and plantation management.

Due to the hard work and efforts of Xie and his team, Ethiopian agricultural authorities highly affirmed and appreciated their professionalism, meticulousness and hard-working spirit , as well as excellent demonstration effect, and encouraged further expansion of the demonstration scale.

The expert group has fully or partially completed the construction of 13 pilot demonstration sites within the current phase of the project.

"The demonstration project not only solves the difficulties and problems that exist in local agricultural production, but also strengthens the capacity for self-development, economic efficiency and market competitiveness of local agricultural industry," Xie said.

Passing the baton

During the three years, the expert team carried out practical technology training, combining theoretical knowledge with actual work in the field, in an effort to better translate Chinese agricultural technology into Ethiopia's agricultural self-development capacity.

Xie added that they trained 1,518 local people, exceeding the goal of their training plan.

"These trainings combine theory with practice, so that they can play a role boosting local employment and income, enrich the nutritional structure of local food and improve the ecological environment," Xie said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Xie led all the experts to strictly implement the specific prevention and control measures in accordance with the requirements of both sides.

The team made full use of telephone and internet tools to maintain contact with project officials and working partners, carried out online guidance and training, and made every effort to meet the needs for technical consultation.

Selfless dedication

Xie has made great sacrifices for the aid program. "My family is very supportive of my participation in the aid project, and it is also the foundation for me to do a good job in Africa," Xie said.

In 2004, during his first participation in the aid project in Africa, his father passed away. "As a son, I have not been able to feed my frail father on the hospital bed even a sip of water, which is the heartache and guilt of my life," Xie said.

In 2018, when he came to Africa again for this aid project in Ethiopia, his son was studying at the university campus. Three years have passed, his son has graduated from college, but he is still working in a foreign country.

Similarly, the greatest sacrifice for all African experts is the lack of companionship and care of loved ones. But Xie said, “Every time we think about the responsibility and our mission, we all feel proud of our work here. 

(Print Edition Title: Fulfilling the Mission)

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