CAETE 2025 to Spur Agribusiness Modernization in Africa
The 4th edition of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo 2025 (#CAETE2025) is scheduled to take place in Changsha from 12 to 15 June 2025. On 13 June 2025, the China-Africa Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Hunan are organizing a Forum on #Agribusiness in the context of the Expo. The focus of the Forum is the modernization of the agricultural sector in Africa.
| NO. | PRODUCE | COUNTRY OF ORIGIN | EST. VALUE $M |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sesame Seed | Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan | 2000 |
| 2 | Macadamia Nut | Mozambique, Kenya, Malawi | 900 |
| 3 | Tobacco | Zimbabwe, Malawi | 800 |
| 4 | Soybean | Ethiopia, Zambia, Tanzania | 600 |
| 5 | Avocado | Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa | 350 |
During the past few years, China has gradually imported more agricultural produce from Africa. China buys coffee from Ethiopia, sugar from Mauritius and even chili from Rwanda.
Under its agribusiness partnership strategy with Africa, China has dispatched several agricultural technical teams to Africa. In Madagascar, China introduced new hybrid varieties of rice which achieve better yields and are more climate-resilient. Similarly, China and Mozambique partnered to set up a farming cooperative which manages 20,000 hectares under rice cultivation. In Uganda, China has improved rice yield through capacity building and modern machinery.
Across Africa, China has set up Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centers (#ATDC) and Friendship Farms. Currently, there are 24 ATDC in Africa, while Friendship Farms exist in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. So far, the ATDC program have touched the lives of more than one million farmers across Africa.
Since 2019, China has promoted the Science and Technology Backyard (#STB) in order to improve agricultural technology in Africa. The China Agricultural University spearheads the program and regularly hosts workshops for African farmers to propagate the latest farming techniques and knowledge. Africans can also enroll at Chinese universities to pursue further studies in agriculture.
In collaboration with FAO under the South-South Cooperation (SSC) Program, China has set up a demonstration farm in Uganda. The demonstration farm is growing hybrid rice, foxtail millet and sorghum and has trained over 1,000 farmers so far.
Across Africa, China has contributed significantly to #FoodSecurity and the fight against #ClimateChange through higher-yield seeds and climate-resilient varieties. Better harvests have also improved the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Africa by fostering an important sustainable economic activity.