Jiang Heping together with agriculturalists in Sudan

When 58-year-old Jiang Heping set his foot on African soil for the first time in 2006, he dreamed that one day rice and golden corn would boost the continent’s food security, saving people from starvation and comforting crying children.

In hopes of achieving his dream, Jiang, a scientist at the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, has traveled to Africa 16 times over the past eight years. Since his first trip, when he was sent by the Ministry of Commerce to do field research on the agricultural situation inAngolafor an aid program, he has left his footprints in 13 different African countries.

“At the time the situation was much worse than I thought,” Jiang told ChinAfrica.  “The local farmers had no idea about certified seed. They used their own seeds, simple tools and no manure. As a result, the agriculture there was in a very backward state despite the rich water and land resources they have. The corn yield was less than 50 kg permu(1mu= 0.67 hectare).” 

Based on his professional knowledge and what he saw from the local conditions, Jiang worked out an agricultural development plan for four Angolan provinces that won support and sponsorship from the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The project became a great boost to local agricultural development.  

Encouraged by witnessing what he could do for Africa, Jiang planned a second agricultural expedition to the continent in 2008 that included stops inEthiopia,SudanandMozambique. 

With a new round of aid measures initiated by the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit in November 2006, the Chinese Government promised to send 100 agricultural experts within three years to help establish 10 special agricultural technology demonstration centers in Africa. Jiang was appointed the head of the expert commission.

“WhenChinabegan to develop its agriculture, what we did was to work on a single area and apply the experience to other areas after it proved to be successful,” Jiang said. “We hope to duplicate this model in Africa, so we suggest starting with a demonstration center, then extending to larger areas, and finally to the whole industry.”

During his time in Africa, Jiang seized every opportunity to communicate with local officials from the agricultural sector. Based on these communications and the information he collected, he produced reports on the best methods of local agricultural development for three African countries.

Jiang said that his motivation for work came from the words ofVenancio Massingue,Mozambique’s science and Technology Minister.

 Jiang quoted Massingue as saying, “In the past, we were in need of guns and artillery, but today, what we need is food and meat. You and your expert team can help us build the agricultural technology demonstration center, which solves the problems of poverty and agricultural development inMozambique. We really appreciate the help of the Chinese Government and Chinese agricultural experts.”  

An arduous task

Jiang and his team worked for more than 10 hours a day and often had to navigate treacherous terrain as they conducted fieldwork. After years of war and chaos inAngola, the highways connecting the capital city and other provincial capitals were obliterated by bombs. “When you are in a car, the seat belt must be fastened or the bumpy road will force your head to bump the ceiling, and the road is rough on cars,” Jiang said.