On June 9^th, 15 experts and officials from 10 African countries (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi) and the World Bank visited China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI) of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in Hangzhou, Southeast China.



This event, as part of the Sino-Africa Agricultural Technology Transfer Training Program co-sponsored by CAAS and the World Bank, is to strengthen and promote the Sino-African collaboration in rice breeding and production.

CNRRI Director General Dr Cheng Shihua briefed visitors about the latest development of China’s rice production and research. “CNRRI is the leading institute in rice research in China”, Dr Cheng said on the meeting, “We are proud to work together with colleagues in Africa to contribute more to the global food security”. He proposed to deepen the scientific cooperation in staff and information exchange, technology transfer (such as the hybrid rice), etc.
 
During their stay, the delegation also visited CNRRI’s experimental facilities located in Fuyang City, including the National Center for Rice Improvement, the Rice Product Quality Inspection and Supervision Testing Center (MOA), the State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology.