Link to article: https://allafrica.com/stories/202009110839.html
Madagascar’s staple crop, rice, has not been sufficient enough to support its people, so they heavily rely on imported rice. Under a FAO South-South cooperation, led by China under Madagascar, a new strain of rice called Weichu was created to combat their subtropical climate. 124 farmers were taught field training by Chinese experts to ensure the longevity of the rice which has shown profound results, yielding 8.5 tonnes per hectare compared to 3. The project plans to train over 1000 farmers to bring the country’s average to 8-12 tonnes, which means reduced imports and a step toward self-sufficiency on rice.
An increase of local food production as an island Country is crucial as trade between countries has declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Being able to attain rice self-sufficiency will improve food security, increase jobs, and promote sustainability of its natural resources. This will boost the economy and have a lasting impact on survivability and growth of a nation. I believe if Madagascar is able to produce this strain of rice effectively throughout its entire country, they will never have to worry about food again and can focus on other problems in their country. My only concern is if the rice will have a negative impact on the environment as an invasive species.
The agency that made Madagascar agriculturally self-sufficient was a specialized agency of the United Nations called the Food and Agriculture Organization South-South cooperation, where their main goal is to tackle food insecurity and global development along the global South. China is a large nation which is also sustained on rice, so it makes sense why Madagascar got help from foreign aid such as China. The rice hybrid was manufactured in China and was implemented in Madagascar as part of their goal to make Madagascar a more economically and efficient country. As a less developed country, receiving aid from other countries is a must for any kind of change