Feature: Chinese technology boosts cotton production in Benin-Xinhua

Villagers fetch water from a water supply facility built by Chinese experts in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, May 25, 2024.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Xinhua/Li Yahui)

COTONOU, June 11 (Xinhua) -- As the June rainy season descends upon Benin, Donatien Ezin and his eight-year-old son work together in the fields behind their home in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou.

The 37-year-old cotton farmer expressed confidence in planting cotton in time for this month. "Thanks to the Chinese agricultural machinery, my cotton field can be planted quickly, saving a lot of labor for me and my family," Ezin said.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.

Tailored to local conditions, Chinese experts undertook tasks such as seed selection, demonstration of planting techniques, and guidance on agricultural machinery.

Shen Zhiwan, a Chinese agronomist, said Belle Cite's cotton farmers have achieved "tangible progress," noting that as their incomes increased, they replaced their once-scattered adobe dwellings with sturdy brick houses.

Ezin, currently living in a brick bungalow with his family, explains the success of the cooperation project in detail. By mastering scientific planting techniques and utilizing machinery, Ezin and his brother witnessed crop yields surge from 1.2 tonnes to 2 tonnes per hectare.

Shou Xiaoyong, the head of the Chinese expert team, said that they have conducted 22 training sessions over the past three years, which covered topics such as agricultural machinery and cotton planting techniques, benefiting nearly 1,000 local trainees.

Their efforts have introduced new tools and technologies, resulting in improved cotton production and quality in Benin, he added.

Yves Koba, mayor of Belle Cite, expressed gratitude for the experts' assistance in helping local farmers increase their incomes, enabling them to build houses and purchase motorcycles and even cars.

The mechanization of cotton production has transformed work processes and elevated both cotton production and living standards, Koba said, highlighting a significant increase in cotton farming participation since the project's initiation, with more than 300 families now actively engaged in cotton-related activities in Belle Cite, up from 100 households. ■

Villagers fetch water from a water supply facility built by Chinese experts in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, May 25, 2024.

Locals pose for a photo in a cotton field in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, Nov. 26, 2023.

Shou Xiaoyong, the head of the Chinese expert team of the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, May 25, 2024.

Shou Xiaoyong, the head of the Chinese expert team of the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin, explains cotton cultivation methods to local farmers in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, June 24, 2023.

Locals pose for a photo in a cotton field in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, Nov. 26, 2023.

A Chinese expert explains cotton cultivation methods to local farmers in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, Aug. 31, 2022.

This photo taken on March 25, 2022 shows agricultural machinery of the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin, in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin.

Donatien Ezin (3rd L) and his family pose for a photo in front of their house in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, May 25, 2024.

Donatien Ezin works in the field in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, May 25, 2024.

Akilou Atesse, a cotton production supervisor trained by the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, May 25, 2024.

Farmers pose for a photo in a cotton field in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, Nov. 27, 2023.