Kigali, 21 Feb (Xinhua) -- A regional seminar on the application of fungus technology in Africa was held in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, on 21 February. Participants from the United Nations and African countries such as Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo believe that China's fungus technology will help African countries achieve sustainable development goals.
Participants visit a mushroom farm in Kigali, Rwanda, on February 21. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Huang Wanqing)
Amsun Sibanda, Director of the Country Strategy and Capacity Building Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said in his speech that fungus technology can help achieve many sustainable development goals, including poverty eradication, hunger reduction, climate change, and women's rights and interests, so this technology has become a priority project of the China-United Nations Peace and Development Fund.
Ozonia Oyero, UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, said that fungus technology has contributed to poverty alleviation and climate change in Rwanda. The fungus technology contributes to sustainable agricultural production in Africa and will contribute to Africa's achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. It is hoped that this technology will be promoted in Africa.
Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Wang Xuekun said in his speech that fungus technology has been promoted to 106 countries and regions around the world, helping many farmers get rid of poverty and become rich. It is hoped that more people in African countries will master this technology to promote poverty reduction, employment and peaceful development in Africa.
This is the site of the African Regional Seminar on the Application of Mycotic Technology in Kigali, Rwanda, on February 21. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Huang Wanqing)
Olivier Kamana, permanent secretary of Rwanda's Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, said the Rwandan government believes that fungus technology has potential and should be prioritized. This technology can help Rwanda achieve its Sustainable Development Goals and has been adopted by many Rwandan farmers.
It is understood that more than 35,000 farmers in Rwanda have received training in fungus technology, and more than 3,800 households and more than 50 companies and cooperatives have engaged in related business.
The workshop lasted for 4 days. During the visit, participants will visit a number of mushroom planting farms in Rwanda and the demonstration center of agricultural technology assisted by China in Rwanda.
Participants visit a mushroom farm in Kigali, Rwanda, on February 21. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Huang Wanqing)
The fungus technology from China "replacing wood with grass" fundamentally solves the "fungus forest contradiction" where edible fungi need to cut down a large number of trees. In addition to being used as a mushroom medium, it can also be planted in large areas to prevent soil erosion, or as feed, organic fertilizer, etc.