18 December 2014: China and Brazil in African agriculture – news roundup

Review and next steps for Rwanda’s ATDC

A meeting was convened last week to review the last 3 years of the Chinese Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centre (ATDC) in Rwanda, and to discuss what happens next with the project. The Rwandan ATDC was set up in 2011 and like others, it was originally expected to be self-sufficient and managed by local authorities three years after setting up. Although a number of successes are mentioned in this article, many of the ATDCs have faced difficulties in achieving full financial self-sufficiency.
(Xinhua)

‘The Project for the Nacala Corridor’

July 2014: Written by JICA and the Mozambican Ministry of Planning and Development, this paper is titled: ‘The project for Nacala Corridor: Economic development strategies in the Republic of Mozambique (Version 3)’
(Farmlandgrab.org)

‘Coffee Exports: Brazil’s Loss is Ethiopia’s Gain’

Ethiopia is anticipating a boon in its coffee exports next year as Brazil, the global market leader, has suffered a drought that is forecast to reduce their harvest. It is predicted this would raise exports from 190,000 tonnes, earning $841 million in 2013/14, to 235,000 tonnes earning $862 million this year.
(Africa Trade Magazine)

Chinese-built Career Training Institute in Ghana

The Chinese government has opened a new training institute in Ghana as part of what it calls the ‘New Career Training Institution Expansion Project’. It comprises of two buildings over an area of 4500 square metres, built by a company called Gansu International.
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Conference

Officials from Africa and China met at the AU Headquarters in Ethiopia for the China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Conference. They discussed Chinese successes in this regard and how “benchmarking China’s experience of rapid industrialization will have significant positive impact should Africa emulate [sic].” A Chinese Vice Minister also called for agriculture “modernization” as part of the planned cooperation between China and Africa.
(AllAfrica)

This news roundup has been collected on behalf of the China and Brazil in African Agriculture (CBAA) project.

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