What Africa Can Learn from China’s “Holding the Rice Bowl Firmly” Approach to Food Security

By Gerald Mbanda 

Food security remains one of Africa’s most pressing development priorities. China, by contrast, has managed to maintain food sovereignty for its population of 1.4 billion people. According to China’s National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, the country has sustained food security over the past five years, consistently producing more than 650 million tonnes of grain annually. In 2024, China surpassed 700 million tonnes of grain for the first time, achieving a per capita grain level of 500 kilograms—well above the internationally recognized food security benchmark of 400 kilograms per person.

Africa can draw powerful lessons from China’s achievement. One major factor is China’s emphasis on long-term planning. Food security is treated as a national strategy with consistent policies that transcend political cycles. This stability allows China to protect farmland, encourage investment, and maintain production targets. African countries often face frequent policy shifts, which undermine long-term agricultural development. Establishing stable, long-range policies aligned with continental goals can help build stronger, more resilient food systems.

China’s progress has also been driven by massive investment in agricultural research and innovation. From improved seed varieties to mechanization and digital farming tools, scientific advancement has played a central role in boosting yields. Africa, too, needs to invest heavily in agricultural science and technology—strengthening research institutes, developing resilient seed systems, expanding biotechnology, and embracing climate-smart agriculture. Producing high-quality seeds locally and reducing dependency on imports will also enhance sovereignty and resilience.

Another significant element of China’s success is strict protection of farmland. By preventing uncontrolled urban expansion and preserving essential agricultural areas, China ensures that arable land remains dedicated to food production. Africa faces challenges in this regard, with soil degradation, urban sprawl, and desertification threatening valuable farmland. Effective land-use planning, soil conservation programs, and restoration of degraded lands, particularly in vulnerable regions such as the Sahel, are critical for sustainable agricultural growth.

China’s robust grain storage and reserve system further strengthens its food security. Strategic reserves stabilize prices, reduce losses, and buffer the nation against external shocks. Africa, however, loses billions of dollars annually due to inadequate storage and post-harvest losses. Investing in modern silos, cold-chain systems, community storage facilities, and national reserves would greatly enhance resilience and minimize waste.

China has also succeeded by empowering smallholder farmers through modernization. Even farmers with small plots benefit from access to machinery, training, and agricultural services, enabling high-efficiency production. In Africa, where most farmers are smallholders, similar service-based models—offering machinery rentals, training, logistics, and marketing support—could transform rural agriculture and make modernization more accessible.

Water management is another crucial area where Africa can learn from China. China’s extensive irrigation systems shield farmers from rainfall variability, while most African agriculture remains almost entirely rain-fed. Expanding irrigation—through solar-powered pumps, drip systems, small dams, and river-basin projects—would significantly raise productivity and reduce vulnerability to climate change.

Finally, China’s rural revitalization efforts demonstrate the importance of involving youth in agriculture. By creating opportunities in agri-business, agro-processing, digital agriculture, and rural industries, China has revitalized rural communities. Given Africa’s young population, empowering youth through training, finance, and innovation will be essential to building a dynamic agricultural sector.

Africa has much to learn from China’s commitment to “holding the rice bowl firmly.” Through long-term planning, investment in innovation, land protection, strong storage systems, smallholder empowerment, expanded irrigation, and youth engagement, Africa can strengthen its path toward food self-sufficiency. By adapting these lessons to local realities, the continent can harness its vast natural resources and build a secure, resilient, and prosperous food future.