Tag: South-South Cooperation

Celebrating Fruits of China’s South-South Cooperation Projects in Uganda

Posted on By Joshua Kingdom

In June this year, a three year South-South Cooperation (SSC) agriculture project between the governments of Uganda and China as well as the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will come to a close. As we look to a renewal that is almost certain, we can take a moment to reflect on the remarkable milestones arrived at during the years in which the partnership has run.

Having commenced by the agreement titled “Technical Assistance Under the South-South Cooperation with the People’s Republic of China in Support of the Development Strategy and Investment Plan 2010/11-2015/16 in the Republic of Uganda” back in 2012, and further extended one more time before its current dispensation, the SSC’s endurance owes to its results which cannot be overstated.

During the first and second phases therefore, there was an introduction of crop varieties that best responded to the needs of local farmers, the most impressive of which is perhaps proso millet. Its attributes made it more suitable for planting than the local finger millet– it grows for a shorter time (75 days rather than 90), requires less grains in planting (5kg per acre instead of 25), bares more yield (up to three times), and is drought resistant. Also witnessed, was astounding realizations in cases that involved diary farming where cows are reported to provide at least seven liters each per day up from just two.

The present SSC is not only interesting because it builds on these numbers however, but also because it makes part of a broader framework in which China has in recent years led an effort of helping contribute to the faster realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dubbed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), this program singles out eight SDGs that Beijing feels require specific attention for the sake of the developing economies post Covid-19. This is further true now that 2030 is not far off.

In his 2022 address to the ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends i.e. the umbrella of nations and organizations that support the GDI cause, Chinese Foreign Minister (FM) Wang Yi, among other things outlined improvement in agricultural practices as key in realizing SDG 1 (ending poverty). To this end, he highlighted that, his country would world over restart the SSC which had up to that point concluded.

The FM further spelled out bold measures to accompany this arrangement that Uganda has since benefited from e.g. an agreement for technical support entered by China’s Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development with FAO along with donation of data imperative for policy making to the United Nations like on arable land and forest coverage provided by the SDGSAT-1 satellite.

Interwoven around four objectives (development of aquaculture value chain, supporting livestock improvement, establishment of a technological transfer base, and development of high yield rice and foxtail rice) thus, it comes as no surprise that the period between 2022 and 2025 has been even more successful.

The SSC project during this time in the country has ensured that farmers in the areas of focus have very highly educated experts at their disposal for consultation something that greatly turned around their fortunes. In terms of the broader picture, there have been several collaborations between in-line institutions and their colleagues in China. Most notably, joint research by Shanghai Agro Biological Gene Center and the National Agricultural Research Organization resulted into the release of WDR-73, a genetically modified variety of rice that is incredible in its yield and doubles as drought resistant.

Food and Agriculture Organisation Uganda country Representative  Antonio Querido (maroon shirt) with Chinese ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong (3rd right) the fingerling stocking activity at Aquaculture Research and Development Centre in Kajjansi on June 12, 2023 (Photo: Daily Monitor/ABUBAKER LUBOWA )

There has also been several sponsored visits of Ugandan officials to different regions of China for purposes of benchmarking best practices as well as in brokerage of associated policies. While attending the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation last year thus, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries Hon. Frank Tumwebaze entered an agreement with the General Administration of Customs of the Republic of China that allowed Uganda to export aquatic life and Chilies to the over 1.4 billion people market of China.

According to the minister, this was also the first time that Uganda would be exporting the second product to any part of the world there demonstrating China’s commitment to walk the talk. Therefore, as we approach the end of this partnership, considering the multitudes of success it came with, celebrations are in order. Viva  China-Uganda Cooperation.

The writer is a research fellow at the Development Watch Centre.

 

The third phase of the South-South Cooperation: A new chapter of partnership between China, Uganda and FAO

Posted on By Shemei Ndawula

The people of the People’s Republic of China as well as the people of Uganda have got a striking similarity which; as I have come to notice, has been largely under looked in most Sino-Ugandan (African) studies. We as Africans call it Ubuntu; the belief that the individual is an inherent part of the whole community and the intrinsic desire to look out for one another. This has never been so prominently displayed as with the tripartite South-South collaboration between China and Uganda.

I have witnessed the challenges and opportunities that Uganda faces in its quest to achieve food security, poverty reduction, and environmental sustainability. I have also seen the potential and promise that Uganda has to become a regional and continental leader in agriculture and agribusiness.

That is why I am exceptionally thrilled to witness the third phase of the South-South Cooperation (SSC) project between China, Uganda and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) rollout. The SSC is a mutual sharing mechanism that allows for the exchange of development solutions between and among countries in the global South. The SSC aims to enhance the capacities of developing countries to achieve their development goals through knowledge, experience, technology, and resource sharing.

This collaboration between China, Uganda and FAO was launched in 2012 with an initial funding of $3 million from China. The project was focused on improving crop production and productivity, especially for rice and maize, through the introduction of improved seeds, fertilizers, irrigation systems, and mechanization. It also sought to support the development of aquaculture and livestock sectors, as well as the establishment of demonstration farms and training centers.

The project achieved remarkable results in its first phase (2012-2015), such as increasing rice yields by 150%, maize yields by 50%, fish production by 30%, and milk production by 20%. The project also created more than 10,000 jobs and benefited more than 100,000 farmers.

Based on the success of the first phase, the project was extended for a second phase (2016-2019) with an additional funding of $5 million from China. The second phase expanded the scope of the project to include more crops, such as cassava, banana, soybean, and vegetables. This investment also went a long way in strengthening the capacity building of farmers, extension workers, researchers, and policy makers through facilitating training courses, study tours, workshops, and seminars. This partnership has also enhanced the collaboration between the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) of Uganda and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) for joint research and innovation.

As would be expected, the second phase of the project also delivered outstanding results, such as increasing cassava yields by 100%, banana yields by 50%, soybean yields by 40%, and vegetable yields by 30%. The project also improved the quality and safety of agricultural products through the adoption of good agricultural practices (GAP) and standards. This has gone a long way in increasing the income and food security of farmers through creating better market linkages and value addition.

In January 2023, the project entered its third phase (2023-2026) with a funding of $12.6 million, out of which $10 million is committed by Uganda and $3 million by China. This ($10 million) is one of the most significant contributions by a Least Developed Country as a beneficiary nation for a SSC project. The third phase aims to scale up the achievements of the previous phases and consolidate the sustainability of the project.

The third phase will focus on four key areas: crop production and productivity; agro-processing and value addition; agribusiness development and market access; and policy support and institutional strengthening.

This phase will also align its activities with Uganda’s national development plans and strategies, such as Vision 2040, National Development Plan III, Agriculture Sector Strategic Plan, Parish Development Model, among others. The third phase looks at integrating cross cutting issues such as gender equality, youth empowerment, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and digital transformation into the joint effort by the tripartite

The third phase will also involve more stakeholders from both public and private sectors, such as local governments, civil society organizations, farmer associations, cooperatives, agro-industries, financial institutions, and media.

The third phase will also leverage more resources from other development partners and donors, such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the European Union, the United States Agency for International Development, and others. The third phase will; basing on lessons learned in the previous rollouts showcase more effective practices and success stories from both China and Uganda to inspire other countries and regions to join or replicate the SSC model.

The third phase thus marks a new chapter of partnership between China, Uganda and FAO. A partnership that is based on mutual respect, mutual benefit, and mutual learning. A partnership that is driven by innovation, collaboration, and transformation. A partnership that is aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Agenda 2063 for a better future for Africa and the world. A partnership that highlights out what we’ve learned to expect from all Sino-Ugandan partnerships, effective, efficient and timely delivery.

Shemei Ndawula is a research fellow Sino-Uganda Research Centre

Now that CHINA is here!

Posted on By Admin

By Terence Kalule

Albert O. Hirschman once challenged Professor Nurkse asserting that “underdeveloped economies are called underdeveloped because they face a lack of resources, maybe not natural resources, but resources such as skilled labor and technology.”

China’s history makes her the perfect candidate to win ownership of not only her national success today, but also her global impact in regard to her development. If we may compare the figures, we can see China’s GDP worth 59 billion US dollars in the 1960s, having America’s worth at 543 billion US dollars. Quite a gap!

By 2018, it might not come as a surprise that this gap gets even closer to surpassing, when China’s GDP is worth $13 trillion and that of U.S standing at $20 trillion. With such a fast-rising trend, China is anticipated to be the world’s number 1 economic superpower there’ll be by 2025. This development and more to come, is the result of a China whose growth has been through a furnace literally, melting and remodeling self into the image she is today.

Worth noting is that China’s history is not free from hardships. Like many other developing countries especially from the global south like African countries, China too suffered colonialism and brutal foreign invasion that cost the country tens of thousands of innocent lives as well as the country losing some of her territory to foreign aggressors.
Case in point is the result of foreign invasion that resulted into the so-called Opium War, which China lost to the United Kingdom (UK). Under coercion by UK’s warship, Qing Dynasty agreed to sign the treaty of Nanking thereby ceding her own Island of Hong Kong to the UK.

It is important to observe that the first opium war launched by British against Chinese people was completely uncalled for and is a textbook example of how dangerous imperialism can be! The British waged this war against Chinese people simply because the Chinese had resisted opium trade. The UK interpreted Chinese resistance to partake opium trade as disrespect and encroaching on tenets of free trade. Arguably, this points at capitalists’ voracity and sheer disregard of human dignity when their interests are threatened.

Like African countries that suffered humiliating foreign domination including slave trade, and brutal supersession of struggles for self-rule; China too for long suffered the wrath of foreign invaders. In 20th century, the country braved what some historians described as one of most wanton destruction of humanity in Asia as Japan fought China.

It can be argued that it is China’s history characterized by suffering at hands of foreign invasion that gave birth to the Chinese view that it is only through self-reliance that a country can realize dreams of its people. This idea of self-reliance is what China’s founding father Chairman Mao Zedong encouraged in China!

Mao closed off China from the rest of the world for close to 30 years. During his rule, stock exchanges were banned, diplomatic and economic relations with the capitalist west were put to an end! China was completely self-reliant in terms of finance, food and goods. Everyone shared wealth, and the collective community was represented by the state. China at the time had about 542 million people whose retreat had her rise like a phoenix from the ashes.

However, this did not stop China from supporting struggles against foreign domination especially in Africa. An instance is seen in the 1960s. China put aside more than $400M to support construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway line also known as TAZARA. At this time, the rest of the world saw the development as masochistic since at that time, China’s economy was weak that its total GDP was lower compared to that of Sub-Saharan Africa. Indeed, in proceeding years till late 1978, China’s per capita GPD was about $156M while that of Sub-Saharan Africa stood at $490M. With such facts at hand, one can conclude that despite challenges, China has always believed in standing shoulder to shoulder with African countries.

China’s economic game changer came with the country’s open-door policy. The establishment of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) played a key role and many experts describe it as the engine to China’s economic development. These zones had a special autonomy compared to elsewhere in China. From these zones, factories exported goods to the rest of the world. Importers were able to trade with other countries. One of these zones is famous for possessing the world’s largest toy production facility. China exports 41% of the world’s computers, 34% of all air conditioners & 70% of the world’s cell phones; her economy accounting for 18.6% of the global gross domestic product as of 2018.

The 2008 global financial crisis left no stone unturned. All nations got back to the drawing board to find means of revamping the economy. China’s economy collapsed too when there was a lack of market globally, resorting to targeting domestic consumers to boost production, as well as investing in developing nations in Africa and Asia.

Technologically, “the US has already lost the Artificial Intelligence race”. And this was reason good enough for Nicolas Chaillan, US Pentagon’s first Chief Software Officer, to be angry and later resign from his position recently on October 2; as he couldn’t stand the slow pace of technological transformation in the US military. “Whether it takes a war or not, is kind of anecdotal”. “We have no competing fighting chance against China in 15 to 20 years. Right now, it’s already a done deal”, he said.

Through fore fronting certain sectors in her economy, and putting wellbeing of her citizens first, China has been able to make it this far. This growth, overtime, exhibits the bits in which China mastered the art of prioritization when she rooted her faith deep; in optimizing her natural and human resources, strategically tapping into what the technological milieu had to offer as well as an effective administration of a population so huge.

The Human Development Index (HDI) which emphasizes how people and their capabilities play a role in development assessment of a nation and not economic growth alone; Ranks China in the 85th position out of 189 countries, with 0.761 points as of 2019.
With the 5th industrial revolution so close, one whose partakers must be fluent in technology, after eradicating complete poverty; China is in a promising position to be valedictorian of this class. On February 25 this year, Chinese president Xi Jinping declared “Complete victory in eradicating poverty” in China, which the development UN secretary general described as a big success.

What lessons do Low Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) draw from China’s economic growth, and what opportunities are laid on table for citizens in countries running China-invested projects/partnerships? LMIC with low productivity and low capital accumulation barely stand a chance to escape Nurkse’s vicious cycle of poverty. Chinese investments in these countries therefore partly plays the role of a vent to the portal leading out of this poverty trap.
It’s the time for not only governments of LMIC but also citizens under democratic systems to make hay while the sun shines, taking advantage of and optimizing an overflow of opportunities from these Chinese partnerships, as a short cut to boosting internal development.

Terence Kalule is a research fellow with Development Watch Centre; a Foreign Policy Think Tank, and a health education enthusiast.