STORY: China a "reliable" partner for Congo's agricultural development: Congolese minister
DATELINE: July 17, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:56
LOCATION: Brazzaville
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center (ATDC) in Brazzaville
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): PAUL VALENTIN NGOBO, Congolese Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
3. various of the Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center (ATDC) in Brazzaville
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): PAUL VALENTIN NGOBO, Congolese Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries

STORYLINE:

China proves to be a "reliable" and "credible" partner to support the Republic of the Congo regarding agricultural development and food security, said Paul Valentin Ngobo, Congolese Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

In the eyes of Ngobo, what sets this "highly broad, pragmatic and fruitful" cooperation apart is the experience-sharing and training by the Chinese.

SOUNDBITE 1 (French): PAUL VALENTIN NGOBO, Congolese Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
"Agricultural cooperation between our two countries could date back to the 1960s. We are in a very concrete cooperation which is important for Congo. The cooperation is highly broad, pragmatic and fruitful. Training remains the heart of this cooperation because training is here to stay. We need investments and materials. Equipment will be damaged one day, but the training of knowledge stays. We all know if there is one thing we can't take from the Chinese. It is their willingness to share."

The minister said that agricultural knowledge matters so that the agricultural sector could develop in the long run, citing in particular the Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center (ATDC) in Brazzaville.

SOUNDBITE 2 (French): PAUL VALENTIN NGOBO, Congolese Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
"The recent cooperation result is the Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center (ATDC). It is the channel through which the transfer of knowledge can take place, and the channel through which China can show us its additional knowledge on agriculture. So that's why it is very important. We have seen the impact of the training by our friend the ATDC. People didn't know a thing about soybeans in an agricultural zone in the province of Lekoumou, they now produce tons of soybeans. This is a solid example. Most recently, we inaugurated a processing plant for cassava flour, with an estimated production capacity of 4,000 tonnes per year. First, it would allow us to provide the flour stably and at an acceptable price to the population, in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. More importantly, in order to run the plant, we need production ingredients. Providing cassava means income for farmers. This is a concrete example of cooperation between ATDC and the agricultural ministry. China is a reliable and credible partner for us. As the example of the processing plant for cassava flour shows, people who are pragmatic and offer something very important to us, are seen as reliable for us."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Brazzaville.
(XHTV)