(Yicai Global) July 4 -- China is helping Africa modernize its agriculture by sharing its knowledge and practices with local partners and purchasing high-quality products, according to experts.

Some Chinese rice varieties have boosted yields per hectare by over 30 percent in West Africa. These kinds of rice are expanding to more African countries and will cover more areas in the near future, Obai Khalifa, deputy director of Agricultural Development Africa at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, told Yicai Global. 

The Gates Foundation is working with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to improve rice breeding systems in Nigeria and Mali, which will benefit millions of farmers in Africa, per the expert at the nonprofit established by the Microsoft billionaire and his wife.

Another positive example comes from China Agricultural University. A team from the Beijing-based institution, led by Professor Li Xiaoyun, has been collaborating with Tanzania since 2011 to improve the production of corn, a local staple food. The team trained local farmers to raise their corn yields without relying on capital investment and fertilizer. The team is currently experimenting with intercropping of corn and soybeans. 

Li's team has also made some progress in popularizing soybean milk among local people in the East African country. Soybeans are a good source of amino acids and protein, which can enhance local diets, per Li who explained he was happy to see more local farmers reap the benefits of their good corn and soybean crops and move into new houses.

Collaboration between China and Africa has helped African countries to achieve food security to some degree, reduce their reliance on external markets, increase self-reliance, and cut foreign exchange expenses, Li said.

Agricultural cooperation between China and Africa is mutually beneficial as more products reach China with high profit margins so Chinese consumers can enjoy African products of high quality, Khalifa added.

Editor: Emmi Laine