China has supplied Nigeria with its first complete set of full-cycle cassava mechanisation equipment, a move aimed at accelerating agricultural modernisation and strengthening the country’s food security efforts.
The development was announced in a statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in Abuja and signed by Dr Duan Yun.
According to the statement, the equipment was handed over to the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State, representing a significant step forward in agricultural science and technology collaboration between both countries.
The shipment, which arrived on June 17, consists of four specialised machines designed to improve efficiency throughout the entire cassava production process.
Among the equipment delivered are a deep plough, a rotary tiller, a combined ridging and cassava planter, and a vibrating-chain cassava harvester.
The machinery is designed to support every stage of cassava cultivation, from land preparation and planting to harvesting, with the goal of reducing dependence on manual labour while improving operational efficiency on farms.
“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.
The embassy explained that the equipment delivery is part of a wider collaboration between the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) and the National Root Crops Research Institute, supported through the Hainan Provincial International Science and Technology Cooperation Project.
Over the years, both institutions have worked together on initiatives focused on cassava germplasm innovation, sustainable cultivation methods and capacity development.
Their cooperation also includes the establishment of the China-Nigeria Joint Laboratory on Cassava, which is expected to strengthen locally driven research and technological advancement in cassava production.
The equipment handover represents one of the major achievements of the Africa Cassava Yield Doubling Initiative (ACYDI), an initiative launched by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences in 2023.
Implemented under the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025–2027), the initiative seeks to increase cassava productivity while strengthening agricultural value chains across the African continent.
Its approach combines improved cassava varieties, mechanised farming systems, modern agronomic practices and farmer capacity-building programmes to enhance agricultural output.
The collaboration further underscores the expanding agricultural partnership between China and African countries while complementing Nigeria’s drive to modernise its farming sector and achieve greater food security.
