(Hello Africa) Chinese agricultural technologies attract visitors to Africa-Xinhua fertilizer exhibition

An aerial drone photo, taken on April 3, 2024, shows a view of the city in Nairobi, Kenya. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Benedict Russo, a farmer in his 40s, was among hundreds of visitors who attended the African Summit on Fertilizers and Soil Health in Nairobi, Kenya, to explore the latest agricultural technology products on display.

NAIROBI, May 10 (Xinhua) — Benedict Russo, a farmer in his 40s, was among hundreds of visitors who attended the African Summit on Fertilizers and Soil Health in Nairobi, Kenya, to explore the latest agricultural technology products exposed.

During an interview with

The father of three, who owns a cotton farm in Kitui County in southeastern Kenya, said he is interested in purchasing a drone to monitor the health of cash crops on his sprawling farm. “Agricultural drones will allow me to detect early signs of disease without the use of many workers on the farm,” Russo explained, hoping that by purchasing the drones, he would reduce his operating costs and increase his profits.

DJI sales executive Steven Dai said its drones are equipped with the latest technology to conduct efficient aerial surveys of large areas of land at minimal cost.

DJI drones, with high-resolution cameras, facilitate precise spraying of pesticides for better results compared to manual sprayers, he added.

Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Wang Xuefeng (L) and Karabo Gare, Botswana’s minister of agricultural development and food security, pose for a photo during the handover ceremony in Leshibitse, a village 124 kilometers from Gaborone, on March 26. August 2021. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo /Xinhua)

The three-day fertilizer summit, themed “Listen to the Earth,” began Tuesday and attracted more than 2,000 attendees, including foreign donors, scientists and agriculture officials. Convened by the African Union (AU), the Kenyan government and multilateral partners, the summit is expected to adopt a new roadmap to revitalize soil health in Africa.

Kenyan President William Ruto has called on African leaders to adopt strategies to make fertilizers affordable and accessible to farmers.

“Our focus should not only be on increasing the use of fertilizers, but also on ensuring their judicious application to revitalize sensitive soils and rehabilitate degraded ones,” he said.

Wilberforce Khaminwa, a 39-year-old wheat farmer from Narok County, said participating in the summit allowed him to interact with the latest Chinese agricultural products.

“I prefer Chinese machinery because their spare parts and after-sales support are more available in Kenya,” he added.

Paul Ronoh, principal secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said the summit was also aimed at showcasing the latest products to improve the productivity of Kenya’s agricultural sector. ■