“Compared with the maize outside the MADA, ours realized a 50% higher production,” David Mburu, Principal of College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in JKUAT said on the harvest ceremony of white maize recently. With effort of 5 months, the first experimental planting of local white maize in the MADA was concluded with success.

Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJOREC) of Chinese Academy of Sciences provided technical support for the test planting. Maize is one of the staple foods for Kenyans. However, the maize production fails to keep up with the growth of the population, leaving Kenya with the problem of food shortage. “The first harvest of MADA maize is significant for Kenya. China’s technology helps to speed up our agricultural development.” said Mohammed, JKUAT Chairman of Council. 

Sino-Africa Joint Research Center was established in 2013 and located in the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. It is the first research institution aided by China in Africa. To support the construction of the Modern Agricultural Demonstration Area, the JKUAT allocated 10 acres of land and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) provided project funds, high-yield germplasm resources and technical support. Both sides participated in the management and shared agricultural scientific research results. 

The maize is one of the major projects in the MADA. By the use of Chinese planting and management technology, the researchers adjust the planting depth and spacing in different plots to improve the yield of white maize. Mburu attributed the high productivity of MADA maize to the intensive farming, the scientifically designed planting density, and the efficient control of diseases of Chinese agricultural technical team.

“The successful test planting of maize is of significant importance to how to increase the yield of the white maize and other crops.” said Robert Gituru, African executive director of SAJOREC. He added that the Center will plant more local Kenyan white maize varieties, conduct experiments in irrigation, fertilization and pest resistance, optimize the input-output ratio, and formulate the manual of standardized cultivation for local farmers. Moreover, MADA gets moving to introduce other crops like sweet sorghum, highly productive peanuts, and helianthus annus in batches. 

Yan Xue, Chinese Executive Director of SAJOREC, said that in the future, the Center will continue to share China’s planting technology and experience and make efforts to improve the agricultural infrastructure in the demonstration area. Furthermore, the Center will improve its capability in soil moisture monitoring, intensive irrigation, bird damage prevention, and the reduction of damage to stored food, in order to help explore an agricultural development path suitable for Kenya.

Translation：21CMCC