Applying Vietnamese techniques to help West Africa with food security

Prof. Vo Tong Xuan, a world-famous researcher in agronomy, a year ago, was invited by Sierra Leone to give the country advice on how to get rid of food shortages the all year round.

In response, he made four field trips to Africa to inquire into the actual situation there.
When asked about this honour, he modestly explained that because he came from Vietnam, the country that had been admired by Sierra Leone for going from suffering from food shortages to becoming a world top rice exporter.

The project is called “Applying Vietnamese techniques to help West Africa with food security starting with Sierra Leone”.

Prof. Vo Tong Xuan (photo: nni.nikkei.co.jp)

In 2008, the project will start with the first 20 Vietnamese farmers being sent to Africa to provide technical guidance to Sierra Leone’s farmers. By practising the method of "close guidance with specific tasks,” each of these Vietnamese farmers will coach a group of 4-5 Sierra Leonean farmers on the field. Preparations have been well under way for months now.
Five Vietnamese agricultural experts in an advance panty are now in Sierra Leone laying the groundwork for water conservation and multiplication of rice strains (brought from Vietnam).
In May 2008, the transplantation of high-yield rice strains will be conducted on the reclaimed land covering 110 hectares of Mangie Bure Village.

References

VietnamNetBridge 06/02/08 Exporting farmers to help Africa rid poverty

Mathaba NewsNetwork Vietnamese scientists help Sierra Leone boost rice crops