Liaoning International Cooperation Group Achieves Branch 30 Years of China's Technical Achievements Gegdu "Rice Town"

In the tropical rainforest climate zone of western Africa, the rice ears of the farms in the Gegdu reclamation area are evenly strong and the leaves are green and stretched. "Chinese agricultural technology" is changing the original planting methods and agricultural outlook here. "Gegdu" has become synonymous with the excellent rice varieties and agricultural modernization of Côte d'Ivoire, and has become the "rice town" representing the advanced agricultural level of Côte d'Ivoire ".

Gegdu Reclamation Area in the 1. Tropical Rainforest

The farmland water conservancy project and agricultural technology cooperation project in the Koggedu Reclamation area is the first economic and technological cooperation project since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Chinese and Kuwait governments in 1983, and it is also the only project that combines agricultural facilities and technical cooperation so far. The project is located in the original jungle in the middle and upper reaches of the Ge River. The 500 hectares of reclaimed land is divided into three irrigation areas, which are allocated to nearly 1,000 farmers in the surrounding area, and directly resettle thousands of migrant workers. As the implementation unit of this aid project, Liaoning International Economic and Technical Cooperation Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Liaoning International Cooperation Group") has been carrying out various aid work for nearly 30 years since 1989. It has achieved fruitful results in the construction and maintenance of farmland water conservancy projects, the development and promotion of rice seeds, the teaching of rice planting and agricultural machinery operation technology, establish and promote the local relatively perfect rice industry system.

For many years, the Liaoning International Cooperation Group's aid project team has always been stationed at the forefront of the work in the Gegedu Reclamation Area, exploring rice planting with domestic experts and local people. In terms of improving planting conditions, in view of the serious acidification of some soil in Cote d'Ivoire and the prominent problem of water accumulation in some low-lying areas in rainy season, the project team artificially improved the acid soil to adapt it to the growth of rice, and at the same time carried out regular maintenance and cleaning of main drainage canals and branch canals to ensure smooth irrigation and drainage of farmland in the reclamation area; in terms of breeding rice varieties, according to the climate characteristics and soil structure of Cote d'Ivoire, fourteen high-quality rice varieties with the characteristics of disease resistance, lodging resistance, adaptability to acidic soil and dry farming were selected. Since then, breeding work has been continued and 12 new varieties including CG11 and CY2 have been successfully bred, which to a large extent meet the various needs of local people for rice yield and quality and have won favorable comments from relevant institutions and farmers in Côte d'Ivoire. In terms of exploration and promotion of rice cultivation technology, according to local conditions, the project team promoted the rice mechanical dry direct seeding planting technology and rice seedling throwing technology, which effectively improved the production efficiency and greatly reduced the rice planting cost; in the mechanized production and processing of rice, completed the tractor, transplanter, combine harvester, poplar removal machine and other machinery from the test to the large-scale production application, in the reclamation area, a relatively complete mechanized rice production and processing system has been formed, such as arable land, transplanting, harvesting, rice seed screening, rice processing, etc., making Gegedu reclamation area the only reclamation area in Cote d'Ivoire to carry out mechanized rice operations and the highest rice planting area in the country; in terms of rice cultivation technology training, the project team effectively utilizes Gegedu's advantages in new variety breeding demonstration and agricultural machinery, A large number of rich and practical training activities have been organized in the local area, including high-yield rice cultivation technology training, rice mechanical transplanting technology training, rice seedling throwing technology training, regular rice seed production technology training, rice harvesting and processing storage technology training, tractor operation and maintenance training, combine harvester operation and maintenance training, rice mill operation and maintenance training, seed selector operation and maintenance training, etc, over the past 30 years, more than 2000 government officials, technicians, managers and farmers have been trained. This kind of assistance method of "teaching them to fish" promotes the local people to master the relevant technology independently and ensures the continuous promotion of local agricultural development.

As an important agricultural cooperation platform between China and Kuwait, Gegdu bears the important task of revitalizing the rice development in Côte d'Ivoire. The project team has continuously strengthened the promotion of new varieties and rice cultivation techniques to benefit more local farmers. In cooperation with the State Rice Bureau and ANADER (the Agricultural Technology Development Agency-the largest agricultural extension agency in Côte d'Ivoire), the high-quality rice varieties and high-yield rice cultivation techniques in the Gogdu reclamation area have been widely promoted. At present, the two Chinese varieties CG11 and CY2 approved in Kuwait have been extended to all rice growing areas in Côte d'Ivoire, and the extension area is increasing year by year, and they have become the main local varieties. CBI, the first black rice variety introduced by the project team, is the only black rice variety in the country, which has been popularized by the Rice Bureau and ANADER in the country and has been generally welcomed by the market. In addition, at the request of the Ivory Coast Rice Bureau, the project team provides 2 tons of two new varieties of original seeds to the Bureau of Rice Science and Technology every season for breeding 50 hectares of improved seed fields, producing 200 tons of improved seeds, which can meet the needs of 5000 hectares of rice seeds in the country. ANADER also produces 4000 hectares of rice seeds in the Gegedu reclamation area every year through cooperation with the project team. After continuous promotion by the two official agencies of the Rice Bureau and ANADER, the planting area of Chinese rice varieties CG11 and CY2 exceeds 15% of the total rice planting area in Côte d'Ivoire. At the same time, through the promotion of non-governmental organizations (agricultural associations, cooperatives, distributors, etc.), the proportion of Chinese varieties in Divo Province and surrounding areas where the project team is located has reached more than 80%.

Long-term technical support for science and technology has rapidly promoted the development of the local economy. During the ninth phase of technical cooperation, the Gegedu Reclamation Area revitalized the original three rice processing plants, mainly operating Chinese varieties such as CY2, CG11 and black rice CB1. A large rice processing plant has been added with more than 20 employees and 30 tons of rice are sold to Abidjan, the capital, every week. Around both sides of the 20-kilometer road between the project team's residence and the experimental field in the reclamation area, six large-scale natural villages have been formed, and the number of migrant residents has been increasing, from 1000 or 2000 to tens of thousands. Limited by geographical location, the traffic near the reclamation area is not very smooth. With the rapid increase of rice yield, the living income of local people has been rapidly improved, and the local rural economy and farmers' market have also been active. At present, the three natural villages beside the highway where the project team is stationed have formed a well-known important town and become the seat of the OGOUDOU county government. With the reclamation area as the center, the surrounding primitive jungle and barren land have gradually been reclaimed into tens of thousands of hectares of coffee, cocoa, palm and other cash crop planting areas, which have become an important cash crop production area in the Kodivo region.

2. Chinese sent by God

In the past 30 years of cooperation, the project team members and domestic agricultural experts sent by Liaoning International Cooperation Group have overcome the difficulties of poor local environment, rampant tropical diseases, lack of relevant equipment and personnel, and pioneered the development of rice planting areas in tropical rainforests, And gradually developed into an agricultural industry brand with complete water conservancy facilities, advanced planting technology, perfect production and marketing process, high degree of mechanization and wide range of influence, it has played an important role in improving local people's livelihood and promoting economic and social development.

The project team has worked in Gegedu for many years and has forged a deep friendship with relevant departments of the department and the local masses. The project team often provides assistance to the local government and people during festivals and religious activities, solves urgent problems for the people in need, helps local people solve production problems, and repairs facilities such as wells, roads, schools, and churches. A series of humanitarian actions have won a good reputation for the project team in the local area, making the project team a non-governmental ambassador of China-Kuwait friendship, conveying positive energy and winning reputation. No matter where they go, the project team experts are warmly welcomed. In the words of the local people: "The Chinese are sent by God to help us". With a solid mass base, it effectively guarantees the smooth progress of technical cooperation and the safety of the lives and property of our technicians.

The AID project team is a bridge and practitioner of China-Kuwait friendship. During the civil war in Côte d'Ivoire in 2010, the members of the project team did not abandon the Gegdu reclamation area and risked their lives to stick to their posts. This spirit also touched the local people. In the most intense stage of the war, when transportation and communication were all interrupted, the local people took the initiative to protect the members of the project team, so the personnel and property of the project team did not suffer any losses, so that the technical cooperation project could continue. After the war, all members of the aid project team were praised by the Chinese Embassy in Côte d'Ivoire.

3. Liaoning International Cooperation Group

Liaoning International Cooperation Group is a foreign trade company with a long history. Over the years, the company has accumulated rich experience in foreign economic and technological cooperation and formed a certain overseas market advantage. In recent years, Liaoning International Cooperation Group has continuously improved its credit management level and anti-risk capabilities, deeply cultivated overseas markets, and its operating performance has reached new highs. Its market share in traditional markets such as Pakistan, Côte d'Ivoire, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Peru, Japan, and South Korea has gradually expanded.

When carrying out the task of technical cooperation in aid to science and technology, Liaoning International Cooperation Group always proceeds from the national interests and the needs of the local people, actively participates in the agricultural development process of the country, and plays a constructive role in the agricultural development of the country. At present, Cote d'Ivoire is implementing the self-sufficient "Cote d'Ivoire National Rice Development Strategic Plan". The project team of Liaoning International Cooperation Group actively integrates into it and provides Cote d'Ivoire with rice seed and related planting techniques and a number of technical trainings, which are recognized and valued by Cote d'Ivoire. The Gegdu Reclamation Area has become a model of China-Africa agricultural cooperation. It is a well-known base for fine rice breeding and agricultural modernization in Côte d'Ivoire. "Gegdu" has also become a cordial nickname for the project team staff. The Gegdu Reclamation area embodies China's "Chinese characteristics" way of assisting Africa with respect and friendship, without any conditions, pursuing common development and mutual benefit, and showing the image of a responsible big country. It will also provide strong support for the landing of China's "Belt and Road Initiative" initiative in Africa.