China has delivered the first full-cycle cassava mechanisation equipment to Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen agricultural modernisation and enhance food security in the country.

This is contained in a statement by the Chinese Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, signed by Dr Duan Yun.

The statement said the equipment was delivered to the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia, marking a milestone in agricultural science and technology cooperation between China and Nigeria.

It said the consignment, which comprised four sets of specialised machines aimed at improving efficiency across the cassava production cycle, arrived on June 17.

The equipment also included a deep plough, rotary tiller, combined ridging and cassava planter, as well as a vibrating-chain cassava harvester.

It said the machines would cover the full production chain from land preparation and planting to harvesting, significantly reducing manual labour and increasing field efficiency.

“The introduction of these machines is expected to transform cassava farming in Nigeria by making it more scalable, standardised and profitable for farmers,” the statement said.

It said the initiative formed part of a broader partnership between the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences and the NRCRI, under the support of the Hainan Provincial International Science and Technology Cooperation Project.

Both institutions are said to have collaborated over the years on cassava germplasm innovation, sustainable farming practices and capacity building.

They are also said to collaborate on developing the China-Nigeria Joint Laboratory on Cassava to deepen localised research and development.

The delivery of the equipment is one of the key outcomes of the Africa Cassava Yield Doubling Initiative (ACYDI), launched by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences in 2023.

The initiative was introduced under the framework of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025–2027) to improve cassava yields and strengthen agricultural value chains across Africa.

It integrates improved seed varieties, mechanisation, advanced farming techniques and farmer training to boost productivity.

The partnership reflects growing China-Africa cooperation in agriculture and aligns with Nigeria’s efforts to modernise farming systems and improve food security. 

(NAN)