Speaking ahead of China’s annual two sessions — during which its top legislative body, the National People’s Congress, and its political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, convene in Beijing — this year, Prof Robert Gituru, the African director of the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, said that as a developing country, China is more likely to understand the challenges that Africa faces
and has solutions that are tailored to the continent’s situation.

Speaking ahead of China’s annual two sessions — during which its top legislative body, the National People’s Congress, and its political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, convene in Beijing — this year, Prof Robert Gituru, the African director of the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya’s capital Nairobi,
said that as a developing country, China is more likely to understand the challenges that Africa faces and has solutions that are tailored to the
continent’s situation.

A wide range of issues, including agriculture and food security, are being discussed during the two sessions. Many African people expect new momentum to be injected into the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, a major platform for Sino-Africa cooperation, as a result of the discussions.

Gituru said such cooperation has already brought tangible results across Africa, including at his research center. Last year, the center demonstrated
corn growing, and by using proper agronomic techniques from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the yields increased by 50 percent, he said.
The Centre also used a Chinese-made handheld planter that saves labor, makes straight rows while plowing and does planting, seeding and field
fertilization. Local farmers have shown keen interest in the device.
Gituru said China is also manufacturing a machine that could help farmers produce more nutritious feed for their livestock

As Africa continues to embrace modern agricultural techniques, institutions like SAJOREC will remain essential in the journey toward food security, economic growth, and sustainable farming.