China key partner in Africa's agriculture development - FAO official

Fanny Schertzer via Wikimedia Commons - Rwanda, rice fields

Attaher Maiga, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) country representative to Rwanda, said this in an interview with Xinhua at the ongoing African Regional Forum on Agriculture for Sustainable Development in Kigali.

"Agriculture holds the key to economic growth, poverty reduction and food security in Africa. Agricultural growth is an important component of China's economic relations with African countries," Maga said.

Last December, China promised to offer about 60 billion US dollars to Africa to enhance the continent's economic transformation, industrialization, and technological development. The Chinese government announced that it will roll out 10 major cooperation plans that will strengthen cooperation with Africa within the next three years.

"China is partnering with African economies to transform agriculture into a modern and dynamic sector. Chinese government has supported Africa's agriculture growth through a multitude of activities in areas such as investment, capacity building, infrastructure development, innovations and research," said Maga.

The three-day conference, organised by FAO, aims at discussing how the principles of sustainable food and agriculture can promote joint action to strengthen the contribution of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries to sustainable development.

Africa needs about 400 billion US dollars of investment in food production over the next decade to meet the continent's needs, according to FAO.