By LI Li

The "2021 International Forum on South-South Cooperation and Trade in Services -- Digital Economy for South-South Cooperation" was held on September 4 at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). At the forum, the China Agricultural University (CAU) released the report South-South in Action: China-Tanzania Cooperation through Agriculture and Poverty Reduction Partnerships, showing its contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in poverty reduction and zero hunger.

In 2020, China achieved the SDG of eradicating extreme poverty, a decade ahead of the 2030 Agenda. The global average SDG Index score has decreased from about 65.8 in 2019 to around 65.5 in 2021. Humankind has entered the "Decade of Action". Thus, CAU and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) jointly released the special report to share China's development experience and promote the realization of SDGs as a global public good.

At the release ceremony, Professor Xu Xiuli, Dean of the College of International Development and Global Agriculture (CIDGA) of CAU, introduced China's "Small Technology, Big Harvest (STBH)," the China-Tanzania Joint Program of Scaling-up Maize Labor Intensification System in Morogoro Region, which is committed to achieving the SDGs of poverty reduction and zero hunger.

The project was jointly implemented by CAU and Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) of Tanzania, and shared China's two major experiences in Morogoro Region.

Firstly, intensive mix-cropping technologies appropriate for local productivity levels were introduced; secondly, a state-led Merit-Based Public Management System was introduced as an incentive mechanism for rural development. The poverty reduction project covered 1,000 households and 10,000 mu of farmland.

Due to the agricultural produce increase in mix-cropped maize and soybeans, participating farmers climbed to 1,432 households in 2020 from the initial nine households.

In 2021, it was selected into the "global contribution" section of the "Great Feat--China Poverty Alleviation Achievements Exhibition" sponsored by Chinese government organizations.

During the pandemic, constant exchanges and cooperation were ensured by using digital tools. Supported by the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, the Morogoro local government held an online Award Ceremony for the Top 10 Extension Worker Competitions under the STBH project, who made great efforts to serve African farmers and improve local people's livelihoods.

Meanwhile, the M.A. program of China-Africa "1+1" Agricultural Cooperation of CAU was officially launched with the first overseas students registered in September 2021. Seventeen African students completed the online courses and opening defense. Under the global pandemic, the training mechanism of foreign students has been reconstructed by using digital information communication technologies.

With the support of CAU and local coordinator in Morogoro Region, Ernest Mkongo, Chairman of Tender Board, Recruitment and Promotion Committee, Regional Administrative Secretariat (RAS), and six international students staying in Tanzania conducted a five-day field survey in Morogoro villages, and shared their experience online, stimulating all parties to think about China-Tanzania agriculture and poverty reduction partnerships from an innovative perspective.

Li Li is an Associate Professor, CIDGA, China Agricultural University.