The opening ceremony of a 2021 China’s aid training class of mechanized operation technology of cotton planting and maintenance of agricultural machinery is held in Benin. [Photo/sinomach.com.cn]

The opening ceremony of the annual training class of 2021 themed on mechanized operation technology of cotton planting and maintenance of agricultural machinery was recently held in Benin, a country in West Africa. It is an aid project by China to help Benin accelerate agricultural mechanization.

The event was co-hosted by a cotton-planting technical team supporting Benin of China CTEXIC Corporation (CTEXIC), an affiliate of Sinomach subsidiary China Hi-Tech Group Corporation, the Benin Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, and the Benin Cotton Association.

Chinese Ambassador to Benin Peng Jingtao and Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries of Benin Mr Gaston presided over the opening ceremony.

The whole period of training includes six 7-day courses and has attracted 240 participants. This year’s training is the largest ever and will be of great significance for expanding the use of agricultural machinery in Benin.

In his speech, Peng noted that Benin has a promising agricultural industry, and hoped that trainees can master professional skills through the programs and contribute to the development of agricultural mechanization in Benin.

Gaston said that the students should seize the opportunity to have a good command of how to use the modern farm implements such as cultivators, graders and planters so as to open a new era of mechanized farming in Benin and make historic progress in the country’s agriculture.

Students practice operating a cotton planter [Photo/sinomach.com.cn]

Gaston, on behalf of Benin’s President and the government, expressed his gratitude for the helping hand of China, and especially Sinomach. He said that since its inception in Benin in 2013, the China-assisted cotton planting technical team has taken concrete actions to improve the country’s cotton production capacity.

China’s foreign aid cooperation project with Benin on cotton planting has completed two training courses, both undertaken by CTEXIC. Chinese experts promoted mechanization of cotton planting in Benin and ensured the operation of the cotton processing lines there. They also popularized mechanized land preparation and sowing in local cotton production areas, helping Benin to establish a training center for agricultural machinery maintenance and to accelerate mechanization and refinement of its cotton industry.