On Sept 15th , 31 trainees attending “Water-saving New techniques Training Workshop for French-speaking Countries in Africa”, which is sponsored by Ministry of Commerce of P.R. China and organized International Exchange Center of Yangling High-tech Demonstration Zone, visited Xiangyang Forage Experiment Station of ISWC.

Training

The trainees are from Algeria, Comoros, Benin, Rwanda, Niger, Congo, Chad, Senegal, Madagascar, Mali, Togo, Mauretania and other 13 nations. Under the companionship of Mr. Cheng Jimin, director of Xianyang Forage Experiment Station Forage Station, the trainees conducted a field study to the Cow Breeding Base at Xiaozui Village of Chengguan Town.. They listened to the report given by Mr. Cheng Jimin titled as “Development of Animal Husbandry in West Part of China in Harmony with Rural Environment Harness and rational Utilization of Water Resources”, and learnt more about the water-saving model for demonstration and extension of alfalfa planting, intercropping model for fruit tree planting and grass growing , model for intensive livestock farming and rural environment harness, and they also visited farmers to know their living and production conditions. The strip planting of alfalfa for water-saving pattern on gully land and the model for intensive livestock farming and rural environment harness aroused the trainees’ interest and generally agreed that it would have important lessons for water resource utilization and livestock framing in their own countries. The two sides also conducted discussion about the issue how to develop livestock farming in west part of China and how to use water resources effectively and they gave some constructive suggestions.

This field tour would promote the cooperation between China and other countries in the field of effective utilization of farming water resources, and would be of great help for the coordinated effort to combat global environment problems, food security problems and the safety of water resources.