In Guiyang, agriculture specialist Luo Dengfeng has been playing a crucial role in aiding Africa’s agriculture sector. Luo has responded to China’s call twice and joined an agricultural aid program to Africa. Ten years ago, he embarked on an eight-month project and became a horticulture teacher at a college in Ethiopia. Following that, Luo spent three years in Zimbabwe, and his work stint ended in September 2021.
Reflecting on his experience, Luo remarked that he had gained a lot from his time in Africa. He had done fulfilling work and offered practical assistance to the locals. According to Luo, he has never regretted his decision to take on this work as he feels satisfied with his life.
As an agronomist, Luo has played a vital role in the development of the agricultural sector in Africa. He has helped to cultivate the seeds of growth in the continent. Luo’s contributions to the agriculture sector have been widely recognized, and his work has helped to improve the lives of many people.
Luo’s work has been guided by a deep sense of responsibility towards the people he has been working with. He believes that his work in Africa has helped to improve the living standards of many people. In his opinion, it is important to contribute to society and help others in need.
Luo’s work in Africa has been rewarding and fulfilling. His contributions to the agriculture sector have helped to improve the lives of many people, and he has gained valuable experience along the way. Luo’s work is a testament to the importance of international cooperation and aid programs in promoting development and improving lives around the world.
Luo Dengfeng is a distinguished agronomist hailing from the bureau of agriculture and rural affairs of Renhuai, Guizhou province. He is also the deputy head of the China Democratic League’s branch in the city. In his pursuit of excellence, Luo has participated in two agricultural aid programs to Africa. He believes that such programs require agricultural talent who can endure hardships, work hard, and are familiar with grassroots problems, and he is proud to possess these qualities.
He started his first agricultural aid program in Ethiopia a decade ago, where he was designated as a horticulture teacher at a college. He found the work fulfilling and satisfying. Thus, when he got the opportunity to participate in the agricultural aid program to Zimbabwe, he didn’t hesitate to accept the offer. His three-year stint in Zimbabwe ended in September 2021.
Luo considers participating in these programs as a means of broadening his horizons and exploring the world, which was his dream since he was young. He feels satisfied that he has done his best to provide practical assistance to the locals and doesn’t regret his choices.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs initiated China’s agricultural aid program to Zimbabwe in 2009. In November 2018, the ministry sent 10 Chinese experts to Zimbabwe, including Luo, who was designated as a horticulture expert and deputy head of the team. Luo and other Chinese experts recently received an award from the Zimbabwean government for their outstanding contribution to the aid program. Their demonstration program for poverty reduction under the China-Zimbabwe agricultural cooperation framework also won an award at the Global Solicitation on Best Poverty Reduction Practices.
Luo Dengfeng is a seasoned agronomist who has actively participated in two agricultural aid programs to Africa. He believes that such programs require agricultural talent who can bear hardships, work hard, and are familiar with grassroots problems. Luo is proud to possess these qualities and considers these programs as an opportunity to broaden his horizons and explore the world. He is satisfied that he has done his best to provide practical assistance to the locals and has received recognition for his contribution to the agricultural aid program.
The team led by agronomist Luo Dengfeng established a poverty-reduction demonstration village in Zimbabwe, based on China’s experience in targeted poverty reduction and eradication. Applying China’s poverty alleviation method in Zimbabwe was a creative idea, and the team carried out different agricultural projects in the village. Luo recalls that their team shouldered the great responsibility of executing these projects.
According to Luo, the Zimbabwean media reported on the village’s field of organic vegetables, which is a significant achievement for the team. In addition, they guided local farmers to raise chickens and rabbits and grow corn. They also built a fresh water supply system and a poultry hatching center. The farmers in the village can become shareholders in the village’s cooperative and receive practical agricultural training from the Chinese experts. The average annual income of the village’s 106 households nearly doubled to $1,150, which was very exciting news for both the locals and the Chinese team.
Luo Dengfeng stated that this was a trial to establish such a village, and the team finally made it. The Zimbabwean government hopes to promote the demonstration village and its methods throughout the country, in order to boost its agriculture sector and increase the income of farmers. The team received an award from the Zimbabwean government for their outstanding contribution to the agricultural aid program in July 2021.
The demonstration program for poverty reduction under the China-Zimbabwe agricultural cooperation framework recently won an award at the Global Solicitation on Best Poverty Reduction Practices. The award shows the effectiveness of China’s targeted poverty reduction and eradication experience in other developing countries.
Luo believes that such aid programs to Africa require agricultural talent that can bear hardships, stand hard work, and are familiar with the grass roots. He considers himself qualified for this work and regards it as an opportunity to broaden his horizons and explore the world, which was his dream when he was young.
Luo Dengfeng is a senior agronomist of the bureau of agriculture and rural affairs of Renhuai, Guizhou province, and the deputy head of the China Democratic League’s branch in the city. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs started China’s agricultural aid program to Zimbabwe in 2009. In November 2018, the ministry sent 10 Chinese experts there, including Luo, a horticulture expert and deputy head of the team.
In order to provide appropriate training and make suitable experimental demonstrations, Luo and his team first conducted investigations and research in various locations across Zimbabwe to learn about the country’s agriculture. “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime. That’s what we did in Zimbabwe,” says Luo.
The Chinese experts provide training in accordance with the needs of the local population. The trainees include those working in agricultural institutions or corporations, teachers and students from agriculture colleges, and farmers. To enhance the lessons, Luo used the photos he took in Zimbabwe during his training program.
Based on the local weather and soil types, Luo selected appropriate farm crops and introduced organic farming and three-dimensional agriculture. He also taught basic techniques, such as using biological control of pests and diseases to the locals.
Luo and his team introduced suitable planting and management methods to the locals to ensure successful farming. Additionally, they built a fresh water supply system and poultry hatching center, and guided local farmers in raising chickens, rabbits, and growing corn.
The ultimate goal of the training was to ensure that locals became self-sufficient and capable of achieving long-term success in agriculture.
A dozen reports written by agronomist Luo Dengfeng during his stay in Zimbabwe have proposed solutions to problems in the country’s agriculture sector. He hopes the reports will inspire local government officials when making decisions.
In January, Zimbabwe and China signed a citrus phytosanitary protocol that enables Zimbabwe to export fresh citrus fruits like sweet oranges, mandarins, and lemons to China. Negotiations for the current citrus fruits export protocol began in 2015. During his stay in Zimbabwe, Luo visited citrus farms and shared his research findings at a number of symposiums, also writing a report on the topic.
Luo addressed several problems such as pest risk management in exported citrus, hoping that Zimbabwe could apply China’s citrus industry standards to improve its own citrus industry. He believes that Zimbabwe’s soil, sunshine, and weather are ideal for citrus planting, and that some Zimbabwean citrus species have unique flavors that could attract Chinese customers.
According to Luo, the harvest season for oranges in both countries has a time difference of about half a year, which is complementary for the consumer market in China. Luo hopes that the export of Zimbabwean citrus to China will create more job opportunities and income for local farmers.
During his stay in Zimbabwe, Luo shared his knowledge with local farmers, agricultural institutions, corporations, teachers, and students from agriculture colleges. He taught them about suitable farm crops, planting and management methods, organic farming, and three-dimensional agriculture, as well as basic techniques for using biological control of pests and diseases. He chose these methods based on local weather and soil types, and used photos he took in Zimbabwe to enhance his training program.
Luo believes that training locals in agriculture is crucial for sustainable development. He also emphasizes the importance of offering training that meets the demand of the locals, so they can acquire practical skills and knowledge to improve their livelihoods.
According to Luo, mutual respect is crucial in his work in Africa. He has formed many friendships during his time there, and he and other Chinese experts have helped locals learn about China. He has also taught the locals how to make tofu, jellied bean curd, and cook vegetables in traditional ways.
While Luo’s work in Africa has been fulfilling, it has also been a bittersweet experience for him. He has had to confront homesickness, challenging work and living conditions, and other worries. Additionally, his back has suffered from sunburn, and his feet have been scratched by wild plants.
Despite the challenges he has faced, Luo has remained dedicated to his work, which has brought him great satisfaction. He believes that the aid programs to Africa require agricultural experts who are able to endure hardships, work hard, and are familiar with grassroots conditions. Luo believes that he is qualified for this type of work and that it has provided him with the opportunity to broaden his horizons and explore the world, which was a dream of his when he was young.
Luo and his team have established a poverty-reduction demonstration village in Zimbabwe, based on China’s targeted poverty reduction and eradication experience. Their work has included guiding local farmers to raise chickens and rabbits and grow corn, as well as building a fresh water supply system and poultry hatching center. Through these efforts, the average annual income of the village’s 106 households has nearly doubled to $1,150.
Furthermore, Luo has shared his knowledge with the local government officials, hoping they can take inspiration from his reports and proposed solutions to the problems. One of his areas of focus has been citrus exports, and he has visited citrus farms, shared his research findings at symposiums, and written reports about the industry’s pest risk management. With the recent signing of the citrus phytosanitary protocol between Zimbabwe and China, Luo believes that the agreement could help improve Zimbabwe’s citrus industry and bring unique flavors to the Chinese market.