This news roundup has been collected on behalf of the China and Brazil in African Agriculture (CBAA) project.
China’s New White Paper on Foreign Aid
China’s second white paper on foreign aid has been published, wherein China is shown to have provided RMB 89.34 billion in the three years from 2010-2012. The report includes sections on agriculture and environmental protection and the blog below provides an interesting analysis of the report.
- Xinhua – in Chinese / Xinhua – in English
- China in Africa: the Real Story blog
China’s ambassador to Tanzania, Lu Youqing, gave an interview to Southern Metropolis Daily, in which he talks of the positives that China has brought to the country, such as adding 150,000 jobs locally, and becoming the country’s biggest trading partner. However, he talks of the difficulties with the Chinese migrants that have come to the country and had pejorative dealings with local government officials and others that fail to respect the local laws.
(Southern Metropolis Daily)
China Zimbabwe hybrid rice project
Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Agriculture and a local private consultation firm have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China’s National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center to start a pilot hybrid rice production project. A team of Chinese technical experts are due to visit Zimbabwe in the third week of July to plan the project. The local firm is tasked with providing land, labour, logistical support and seek government support.
(Oryza.com)
New IDS Bulletin: ‘China and International Development’
This IDS Bulletin focuses on China’s development strategy and its own development experience, its increasing involvement in development activities in low- and middle-income countries, as well as its collaboration with OECD-DAC members in international development, and its growing engagement in global governance structures.
(Institute of Development Studies)
Should Zimbabwe adopt GM Crops?
In this article,Ian Scoones discusses the politics and science around genetically-modified (GM) crops, arguing that although they has the potential to bring socio-economic benefits, they should not be viewed as the only choice. Rather, GM crops have their limitations and there are equally important non-GM possibilities being driven by the bioscience sector for example. As such “We should always avoid being pushed in a singular direction by those who are (mis)using the authority of science, without a proper and open debate.”
(Think Africa Press)
Climate Smart Agriculture in Brazil, Ethiopia and New Zealand
A new report by CGIAR looks at how policy makers in Brazil, Ethiopia and New Zealand have promoted ‘Climate Smart Agriculture’ into their national policies. This report seeks to use these case studies to suggest how other countries might also promote similar policies.
(CCAFS)
BICS in Health, Agriculture and Food Security
This paper presents a literature review of what is known about the characteristics of Brazilian, Chinese, Indian and South African development cooperation in the sectors of health and agriculture and food security. It involves several citations from the CBAA project amid a number of other sources. The research examines the characteristics (actors, motivation, objectives) and specific attention is given to development cooperation in health in Mozambique, and agriculture and food security in Malawi.
(Zunia)
BRICS Trade Agreements and Development Bank
The BRICS Summit currently taking place in Foraleza, Brazil, is due to emerge with a global trade pact. This comes amid concerns by India regarding agricultural subsidies that it regards as important for its own food security and poverty alleviation issues. Separately, it has also been announced that a BRICS development bank is due to launch with its head office in Shanghai, and US$100bn in startup capital.
- Trade Agreements (The Malay Mail)
- BRICS Bank (Financial Times)
