In the Bafata region of Guinea-Bissau, the Chinese Agricultural Technical Assistance Team—active since 1998—has been playing a significant role in selecting and demonstrating high-yield hybrid rice varieties, training local farmers in rice cultivation, and maintaining agricultural equipment. In celebration of the 2025 Chinese Spring Festival – the Year of the Snake – Chinese rice cultivation experts in the region gathered with local farmers to uphold cultural traditions while aiming to boost high-quality rice production across over 25,000 hectares of irrigated fields.
Throughout the day, a Xinhua reporter observed the team evaluating land-leveling progress at Carantaba farm in the Gabu region. Agronomist Tan Bing explained that advanced rice cultivation techniques are being implemented at the demonstration site, where 17 different rice varieties imported from China are being tested. The goal is to identify three to five varieties best suited to local conditions, which will then be promoted nationwide by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Additionally, the expert team visited Manbonco village in the Oio region to distribute seeds from the previous harvest to local farmers. Village chief Queba Santos Seidi expressed deep gratitude, noting that the continuous efforts of the Chinese agricultural experts have enabled even remote villages to cultivate high-quality rice. Sana Camara, director of Carantaba farm, also thanked the experts for their invaluable and selfless assistance in the fight against poverty and hunger, contributing significantly to the country’s goal of achieving food self-sufficiency.