China grants 40 Million RMB to construct the Morogoro Agricultural Demonstration Center in Tanzania (Linked to Record ID#14888, Umbrella Record ID#1522)

China grants 40 Million RMB to construct the Morogoro Agricultural Demonstration Center in Tanzania In a decision made on June 23, 2006, Wen Jiabao announced a commitment to build a modern center in Tanzania for agricultural training as a part of the 10 (increased in 2009 to 20) agrotechnology demonstration centers in Africa through FOCAC.

The total cost of the Morogoro Agricultural Demonstration Center came to 40 million CNY. At least some of these funds were derived from umbrella Record ID#1522. This center was built on a 62-hectare site at Cholima, Dakawa, Mvomero District, Morogoro Region. Construction and design were completed by the Chongqing Zhongyi Seed Company.

Construction started on October 28, 2009, and an official handing-over ceremony with Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Cooperatives took place on April 2, 2011. Construction wasn't fully complete until November 2011, however.

The finished site has 10 ha of experimental fields, 2 ha of offices, laboratory space, and training space, and 50 ha of outside fields equipped with modern irrigation. The main demonstration fields were growing rice.

The Chinese government will finance the construction and will support a Chinese team to continue to manage or provide assistance at the center for an additional three years (#14888).