17 October is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Rwanda, an African country that is one of the least developed countries in the world, has long faced food insecurity and malnutrition. In recent years, the local people have obtained a stable income and improved their quality of life by learning and practicing fungus technology.
Group photo of the 56th agricultural technology training course of China-aided Rwanda Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center
The China-Aid Rwanda Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center is located in Huye, Southern Province, Rwanda. Since the establishment of the training course on fungus technology, the center has conducted 57 training courses on fungus technology. Chen Xiaobin, head of the expert group of the China-aided Rwanda Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center, said that more and more Rwandans are interested in learning fungus technology, and they especially hope to master this agricultural technology from China.
Chen Xiaobin: Rwandan locals are very enthusiastic and motivated to learn fungus technology. Many women came to the lecture with their children and carefully took notes there. At the end of the course, they will also sing and dance independently to express their gratitude to us.
Chen Xiaobin said that the fungus technology is adapted to local conditions, the cycle is short, and the results are fast, so that farmers can understand it at a glance, learn it and do it. This "small but beautiful" agricultural project has truly benefited people's livelihoods, and fungus technology has helped the development of modern agriculture in Rwanda.
Chen Xiaobin: Our technical threshold is relatively low, thousands of households can come to this industry, can use very little investment to start production, participate in the practice of fungus technology. The cultivation cycle of edible and medicinal mushrooms by fungus technology is very short, and after buying the mushroom bag, the first stubble of mushrooms can be harvested in 10 to 12 days, and the second stubble mushrooms can be harvested after 15 days. It can see benefits in the short term.
The China-aided Rwanda Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center guides local farmers to develop the technology of cultivating edible and medicinal mushrooms with fungi
In Rwanda, mushrooms are not originally a traditional local food, wild mushrooms grow in the woods. The arrival of Chinese mushroom experts has made mushroom cultivation an emerging industry. Leonidas, a Rwandan farmer, came up with the idea to start a company after attending a training course on fungus technology, and he quickly got into action. He hired local youth and women to grow mushrooms from grass, received guidance from the China-Aid Rwanda Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center, and set up a school.
Leonidas: Before I started growing mushrooms, I had nothing, but now I have some industry. I am the manager and shareholder of a school with about 400 students. We also have a mushroom factory, which is a big factory. In addition, my children are also studying in good schools. I have a house to live in and some cattle.
The China-aided Rwanda Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center held a training course on fungus technology in the Southern Province of Rwanda
Leonidas said that by growing and selling mushrooms, he has helped some Rwandans find employment, while also building more industrial chains and contributing to Rwanda's economic and social development.
Leonidas: Now, we use these mushrooms for export, and export can bring money and create jobs. We are creating more industrial chains. Mushrooms are not only nutritious food, they also contribute to our country's GDP.
Chen Xiaobin said that through learning and practicing fungus technology, many local people have changed their lifestyles, obtained stable income through mushroom cultivation, and improved their living conditions.
Chen Xiaobin: After farmers learn our technology, they can earn money, increase their family's income, pay tuition fees for their children, and build big houses. This shows that our technology can really increase their earnings and improve their living standards.
Experts from the China-aided Rwanda Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center provided technical guidance in fungus production enterprises
According to Chen Xiaobin, under the continuous promotion of the "Belt and Road" initiative, the cooperation between China and Rwanda in the economic and trade fields has become increasingly close, which has promoted the local economic and social development of Rwanda, which has also driven the growth of demand for the mushroom industry.
Chen Xiaobin said that whenever the Rwandan people give a thumbs up to Chinese experts and praise China's superb technology, he feels that years of efforts have not been in vain.
Chen Xiaobin: When the Prime Minister of Rwanda attended the launching ceremony of our project, he said that our technology is to teach people to fish. The local people said in plain language, your technology is so good. Because they also had mushroom technology before, but at that time the cost of teaching them this technique was very high and the price was very expensive, so the market was small. After we come, it is equivalent to technology is disruptive, the cost is about one-tenth of the original, and the capacity gain is several times the original. Their evaluation of our technology is very high.
The China-aided Rwanda Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center has promoted the fungus technology to local orphanages
Leonidas said he learned a lot of skills from Chinese experts and that Chinese friends did an amazing thing for Rwanda. He hopes that in the future, he can also become an expert in fungus technology, and like Chinese experts, he can become a role model for the African people.
Leonidas: My future plan is to become an expert in African mushroom production and fungus technology, not just in Rwanda. This is my aspiration and I want to be an expert like Professor Lin Zhanxi and be a role model for African people to show them that fungi can be a part of life. I want my child to understand Chinese and tell him what he (Professor Lin) is and what he (Professor Lin) has taught me. In our culture, I want to give him a cow, but I don't know if Chinese will accept it. In Rwanda, when you love someone, as a symbol, you can give him a cow.
Photo courtesy of China-Aid Rwanda Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center
Interview | Li Xuewei
Editor|Enron
Moderator|Ge Peng
Production|Yang Xiaolei
Signing|Lin Ying
Executive Producer|Pan Xiaoying