This photo taken on Nov. 26, 2025 in Godino Jitu Village, Ethiopia, shows a tractor donated by the Chinese agricultural expert team. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang)
Asnakech Sitotaw recalls the difficult days when her small plot in remote central Ethiopia barely produced enough food. Today, thanks to the support of Chinese agricultural experts, the single mother of five celebrates a life transformed.
Sitotaw’s homestead in Godino Jitu Village, OromiaRegion, has become a vibrant example of productivity and hope, featuring a thriving backyard garden, a new fish pond, a chicken house, and more.
“In the past, our harvests were meager, mainly due to a lack of high-yielding seeds and knowledge of modern farming techniques,” she said, crediting Chinese experts for equipping her with the skills that have revolutionized her approach to agriculture.
In May 2024, the fourth batch of Chinese agricultural experts in Ethiopia launched an innovative three-year poverty reduction project in the village, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and the local government. The experts provided Sitotaw and other community members with high-quality seeds, essential farming inputs, and hands-on training.
“We plan to apply China’s poverty reduction experience to the local village through the introduction of high-yielding seeds, advanced farming techniques, agricultural machinery, and water-saving irrigation,” said Zhang Shihong, head of the Chinese agricultural expert team.
Their work spans animal husbandry, horticulture, crop cultivation, edible fungi, and agricultural machinery, aiming to holistically strengthen Ethiopia’s agricultural sector and food security.
“They provided me with critical training on modern farming methods, from vegetable cultivation to animal husbandry and homestead fishery,” Sitotaw said, adding that the comprehensive support from Chinese experts has “significantly diversified” her family’s diet and increased their income, with high-yielding varieties such as tomatoes, onions, corn, wheat, and fruit saplings like papaya and avocado.
Abu Negash, a father of two, is another beneficiary in the village. With the experts’ support, he built a backyard fish pond and received high-yielding crop seeds.
“Thanks to their support, including quality farming inputs and training, we have significantly boosted our production compared to previous years,” Negash said.
He also expects new chicken coops from the Chinese experts, which will enhance his integrated farming system combining poultry, aquaculture, and crops for a more resilient livelihood.
After six months, the changes are visible.
Assefa Gudissa, deputy administrator of Godino Jitu, noted the “profound impact” of the experts’ work on the area. Wheat yields, for instance, have risen from 4.2 tonnes to nearly 7 tonnes per hectare this year, an achievement he credited to the experts’ capacity-building efforts and provision of agricultural inputs and essential farming materials.
Gudissa also highlighted their contributions beyond agriculture. Collaborating with the local telecom provider, the experts helped erect a new signal tower in the village, improving connectivity and supporting broader community development.
As the latest manifestation of the expanding China-Ethiopia agricultural cooperation, the Chinese experts recently donated over 70 pieces of agricultural equipment to the village, including sowing and soil-tilling machines, a tractor, corn and wheat threshers, seed drillers, planters, milkers, water pumps, chick incubators, artificial insemination tools, and solar-powered insecticidal lamps.
With continued guidance and the knowledge they have gained, residents like Sitotaw and Negash envision a future where their village is self-sufficient, prosperous, and free from poverty.
“I hope that with their continued support and our strong commitment, we will continue to witness remarkable changes in our overall livelihood,” said Sitotaw.
Abu Negash (L), with a newly-harvested ear of corn, poses for a photo with his son and a Chinese agricultural expert at GodinoJitu Village in Oromia Region, Ethiopia, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang)
Zhang Shihong (R), head of the Chinese agricultural expert team, talks with locals at Godino Jitu Village in Oromia Region, Ethiopia, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang)
Xinhua
