STORY: Chinese know-how helps Ugandan rice farmers boost production, income
DATELINE: Aug. 30, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:17
LOCATION: BUTALEJA, Uganda
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of rice fields in Butaleja
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FAZILA MUNABA, Rice farmer in Butaleja
3. various of Chinese experts and local farmers in the rice fields
4. various of Chinese experts training farmers
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LUO ZHONGPING, Chinese rice expert
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ROBERT SAGURA, Rice farmer in Butaleja
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): LUO ZHONGPING, Chinese rice expert 
8. various of people drying rice

STORYLINE:

Dubbed as Uganda's rice hub, the district of Butaleja, located about 250 km east of Uganda's capital Kampala, features a large expanse of lush green rice paddies.

The production of paddy rice has been the main source of income for local farmers for generations.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FAZILA MUNABA, Rice farmer in Butaleja
"I have studied, I have gone up to the university through rice. My parents have been cultivating and I am also still cultivating (rice). And it is also helping me educate my children in good schools. It has also helped me build a house and as well as my parents are also in a good house."

China is a key factor in the story of rice growing in Butaleja, and local communities attest to this collaboration.

The partnership dates back to 1973 and 1987 when China established Kibimba and Doho rice schemes respectively.

Back then, rice growing was introduced in the country to boost the country's food security. Chinese experts passed on their knowledge and skills to the locals on how to grow the crop that has become the staple food in urban areas.

Years on, through the South-South Cooperation framework, Uganda, China and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are implementing the third phase of an agriculture project aimed at boosting agriculture production and fighting poverty.

Chinese experts under the cooperation framework have been stationed here to pass on skills to the farmers directly as they tend to their fields.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LUO ZHONGPING, Chinese rice expert
"Training is very important for enhancing technology of rice production. We teach them how to use hybrid seeds, treat seeds, do nursery, transplant, and manage and harvest. This technology can overcome the challenges of the farmers."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ROBERT SAGURA, Rice farmer in Butaleja
"We have had several trainings with them, and we have gained more skills than previously. Because now, we have already been exposed to some new technologies like nursery making, land preparation, transplanting, and even post-harvesting handling. So we are very grateful. That's why you found us in the class. And now I'm also able to train other farmers."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): LUO ZHONGPING, Chinese rice expert
"Our rice can fight poverty in Uganda. We can support farmers to use Chinese technologies to produce hybrid rice and let them get high yields and benefits, and finally fight poverty."

In mid-year 2023, both Ugandan and Chinese scientists rolled out new high-yielding and drought-resistant rice to boost farmers' production. According to the FAO, the new hybrid rice, WDR-73, has the potential to boost yields by about 30 percent, producing about 4.5 tonnes per acre per season.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Butaleja, Uganda.
(XHTV)