As April ushers in spring, mist clings to the deep valleys of the Nujiang Grand Canyon in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province. High on a mountainside in Ziji Village, Daxingdi Town, Lushui City, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, at an altitude exceeding 1,300 metres, 62-year-old Lisu villager Cha Wenxing is planting rice. These demonstration plots, cultivating high-quality upland rice, seem to float amongst the clouds.  Having spent his life farming, Cha never imagined rice could be grown on such arid terrain. Yet,…

Nhokwara Blessing calls herself a blessed girl. The 19-year-old Zimbabwean is studying Chinese language and Chinese culture in her university. She was born and brought up in Thohoyandou in Limpopo Province in the northern part of South Africa, bordering Zimbabwe. After graduation from a local high school, she chose to study in the University of Venda (UNIVEN) in 2024 as an international student. There, she was delighted to find a Confucius Institute.  She submitted an application on 5 March 2024…

A recent Egyptian scientific study has identified chia, amaranth and quinoa as promising non-traditional oilseed crops that could significantly enhance Egypt’s domestic edible oil production and reduce its near-total dependence on imports. The research highlights the agronomic potential of these crops across varied climatic zones and their contribution to national food security. This is reported by Daily News Egypt, a partner of TV BRICS. Data show that Egypt currently produces only 2 per cent of its edible oil needs locally,…

China’s agricultural development strategy, which began with a focus on food security and evolved into a commercially viable agricultural sector, serves as a valuable model for Africa, Kafui Tsekpo, deputy chairperson of the Association of China-Africa Smallholder Agriculture in Ghana, said, underscoring the necessity of learning from China’s agricultural advancements.   By combining lessons from China’s agricultural successes and local knowledge, Africa can unlock its agricultural potential, improve food security, and create a more equitable economic future for its people, Tsekpo said. …

Farmer Luo Baozhen receives regular weather updates on her smartphone, which help her to better manage her tea farm. Once living in precarious conditions and struggling to make ends meet, Luo now earns as much as 28,000 yuan ($3,868) annually from tea plantation on her 8 mu (0.53 hectares) of land in Pu’er, Yunnan Province. The modernisation of farming and the use of high technology have become a daily reality for farmers and significantly boosted their incomes.  This remarkable transformation reflects the…

Rwanda and China have long enjoyed a robust partnership, characterised by mutual respect and shared development goals. This relationship has been further solidified by the planned Giseke Dam and Irrigation Project in Gisagara District, a venture made possible through a concessional loan from China.  The project is designed to irrigate 2,640 hectares of land, directly benefitting over 900 households and approximately 4,578 individuals by providing critical infrastructure for crop cultivation. Gisagara District, known for its large-scale rice farming, stands to…

Chinese researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough in biopharmaceutical science by developing a method to produce human serum albumin (HSA) from genetically modified rice. This is reported by China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS. In 2024, China consumed over 1,000 tonnes of HSA, with more than two-thirds sourced through imports. This innovative rice-based method uses advanced genetic engineering to insert human genes into rice plants, allowing them to express and synthesise HSA. According to researchers, a single 25-kilogram sack…

This article was provided by QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Our forests play a vital role in feeding the world. From wild foods to fresh water, from shelter to energy, forests sustain billions of people and biodiversity.  Yet we continue to lose them at an alarming rate through deforestation and land degradation. Between 2015 and 2020, more than 10 million hectares of forest were lost each year—an area roughly the size of the Republic…

The total production of kharif cereals was 166.39 million tonnes and that of rabi cereals was 164.53 million tonnes. The production of kharif rice is estimated at 120.68 million tonnes, 7.42 million tonnes more than that of 2023-24 (113.26 million tonnes). Rabi foodgrains production was 15.76 million tonnes. This is reported by ANI, a partner of TV BRICS. Wheat production is projected to reach 115.43 million tonnes. The production of kharif maize is estimated at 24.81 million tonnes and rabi…

Nigeria has received the first shipment of Belarusian agricultural machinery, including 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 pieces of agricultural equipment. The delivery is part of a large-scale cooperation agreement between the two countries aimed at modernising Nigeria’s agricultural sector. This is reported by DNE Africa, a partner of TV BRICS. The delivery, made as part of the agreement signed in September 2024, is an important step in Nigeria’s efforts to modernise agriculture.  Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar…