Chinese expert advises Africa to rely on agriculture

AFRICAN countries need to focus their attention on the use of more land by engaging in agriculture to create more jobs to overcome problems of food insecurities. Deputy Director at the International Poverty Reduction Center in China, Dr Tan Weiping, made the remarks on Thursday this week at the African Civil Society Organization Workshop which is coordinated by the China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE) in Beijing. Dr Weiping said problem of unemployment in Africa can be tackled through modernisation of agriculture and industrialisation in building sustainable development in the countries. ‘Poverty eradication, green development and innovation are therefore essential to the achievement of a strong, inclusive and balanced growth of the world economy and that of the agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, said Dr Weiping. In order to end poverty, there is a need for new skills development as well as overcoming the use of outdated equipment in farming. For that matter, China has changed its poverty reduction programs to poverty elimination programs which assist the country to reduce the number from 70 million people last year to 55. 7 million people in 2015. From the year 1978 to 2009 China’s economic growth rate had maintained 10 percent, whereas the current goal is to lift out of poverty the remaining population by the year 2020. China’s plan of poverty elimination is being undertaken through the 13th Year Five-Year Development Plan which is going to end in 2020. Government’s are thus urged to create favourable policy environment to support and encourage the private sector and civil society to play a greater role in poverty alleviation. The Secretary General of Chinese Follow-up Committee for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Amb Lin Songtian, who is also the Director of Africa Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted several concepts to assist Africa to attain development. He pointed out that China was committed to support programs that would improve the livelihood of the people through incentive, industrial and green development.