When Friendship Comes First by Zeqi Qiu

Author:Zeqi Qiu
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789813293083
Publisher: Springer Singapore

5.3.2 China’s Aid to Uganda on Agriculture

China unveiled its aid for agriculture to Africa in 1959, by providing Guinea with food aid for free. According to the related statistics, it financed about 220 agricultural projects in Africa between 1960 and 2010, which accounted for one-fifth of all its complete projects relating to aid in Africa (Tang 2013).

The forms of aid for agriculture have also evolved over time. In the 1960s and the 1970s, building large farms and centers designed to spread agricultural technologies came as the most frequently used means for China to send its aid for agriculture to Africa. By 1980, a total of 87 agricultural projects were put in place there with the help of China, tilling farmlands in an area of 43,400 hectares. Over the same period, China also funded the construction of 16 water conservancy projects, which irrigated farmlands in 71,000 hectares. Upon completion, these projects produced remarkable results, and related business was booming. However, good times didn’t last long. There emerged many issues such as production decline and business close down.

After reviewing related experience and lessons, China began shifting the focus of its agricultural assistance for African countries to technical exchanges, personnel trainings, and other aspects concerning capacity enhancement. While construing farmland facilities, it also imparts essential agricultural technologies to local farmers. But, they are not necessarily capable of taking in these well-explained techniques. In response to this situation, China adds market factors to its agricultural assistance for African countries. For example, agricultural cooperation companies are incorporated so that Chinese technicians are motivated to stay in Africa for long-term work. Besides, agricultural technology demonstration centers are established to explain how agricultural techniques are applied and train local technicians and farmers at the same time. Upon the end of the demonstration period, market factors are introduced and these centers will be operated as enterprises for the purpose of sustained development (Tang 2013; Gao et al. 2014; Zhou 2012, 2014; Li 2012).

China’s aid for agriculture to Uganda came later than other forms of its aid to the country. Wrapped up in 1977, the Ugandan Kibimba Farm is the last one of the 87 complete projects China funded in Africa before 1980. In 1973, the aiding personnel dispatched by the Chinese government started to work on a patch of isolated, thatch-overgrown wetland. After several years’ arduous efforts, a modernized farm rose high from the ground. With farmlands in 1000 hectares, it employed over 800 workers. In its vicinity operated rice mills, flour mills, brickfields, livestock farms, stores, bars, restaurants, schools, kindergartens, and other off-set facilities. With China’s experience in developing state-owned farms flexibly applied to Uganda, this farm produced an output of 30,000-ton rice, and reaped about RMB 2 million in profit every year. But when the facility was handed over to the Ugandan government in 1982, its production and operation came across a variety of setbacks (Li 2012). The output dwindled to merely 100-plus-ton rice per mu in 1989, the lowest point since the foundation of the farm.

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