A Chinese agricultural technician has gained international recognition for enhancing rice production in Nigeria by implementing modern farming methods that have greatly boosted crop yields.
Yang Xiugang, an agricultural specialist from Guizhou Province in southwest China, has been collaborating with Nigerian farmers since 2017, offering technical support for rice farming. His initiatives have resulted in a significant increase in rice production in the regions where he works.
As reported by Global Times, referencing Chinese media, rice yields on local farms have risen from approximately 200 kilograms per mu to between 650 and 700 kilograms per mu (0.067 hectares). Yang recently mentioned that production levels have now exceeded 700 kilograms per mu.
This advancement is viewed as a major contribution to enhancing agricultural productivity and food security in parts of Nigeria, where rice is a key staple crop.
However, Yang’s efforts have faced challenges. Due to ongoing security issues in certain areas, local authorities have provided armed police protection for the agricultural project and its staff.
During working hours, the technician is usually accompanied by one or two armed security officers while visiting farms and engaging with local farmers. After work, security personnel are stationed at a guard post outside his residence.
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His unique experience of being escorted by armed guards while teaching farming techniques in Africa has sparked considerable discussion on Chinese social media.
On Weibo, discussions about Yang’s work have garnered nearly 40 million views, and videos shared on Douyin have received over 100,000 likes.
Many social media users have commended the technician for imparting valuable agricultural knowledge to local farmers.
Some commenters have described his efforts as “providing practical skills to the African people,” while others have noted that being protected by armed guards while teaching farming techniques “sounds like a storyline from a novel.”
Observers indicate that initiatives like Yang’s underscore the increasing agricultural collaboration between China and African nations aimed at enhancing farming productivity and bolstering food security.
