Developing nations are reaping the benefits of the Chinese mainland’s advanced agricultural knowledge, thanks to a new collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
At a recent workshop in Rome, the FAO launched a global initiative under its “One Country One Priority Product” (OCOP) program, supported by the FAO-China South-South cooperation program. The goal? To share China’s green agriculture philosophy, poverty alleviation models, and technological achievements with countries in need.
Since its launch in September 2021, the OCOP initiative has focused on building sustainable food value chains. With 95 FAO members participating and promoting the development of 56 unique products, the program aims to improve access to healthy diets, boost farmer incomes, and drive economic growth worldwide.
“A crucial aspect of South-South cooperation is sharing China’s effective technologies and experiences internationally,” said Xia Jingyuan, executive secretary of the FAO OCOP Secretariat. “Through this initiative, we can showcase China’s advanced agricultural achievements and make a significant contribution to global food security.”
The workshop marked the official start of the OCOP global project in 15 pilot countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, and Uzbekistan.
An official from Lesotho’s Ministry of Agriculture highlighted the real-world impact of the collaboration. With China’s financial and technical support, potato farming—a key livelihood for many in Lesotho—has seen substantial growth.
“Many people in our country rely on potato farming, making it a unique agricultural product for us,” the official explained. “China’s support is helping our nation better develop this specialty.”
Through initiatives like OCOP, China’s agricultural expertise is not only enhancing crop yields but also fostering sustainable development and nourishing communities across the developing world.
