Director of the state council leading group office of poverty allevition and development(lgop)

　　From July 25 to 29, 2012, the LGOP delegation headed by Minister Fan Xiaojian paid a working visit to Tanzania.During his visit in Tanzania, Mr. Fan Xiaojian visited China-Tanzanian Villagelevel Learning Center for Poverty Reduction, and attended the China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Conference.

Background

　　Tanzania is the first partner country of IPRCC in promoting China-Africa exchanges and cooperation in poverty reduction. Ever since 2008, IPRCC has organized several batches of experts to Tanzania, conducted research projects on poverty issues of Tanzania and comparison of China-Tanzania agricultural development with relevant international organizations, and established a good partnership with the Tanzanian government. From the year 2011, IPRCC has worked with the Planning Commission of Tanzanian President’s Office and launched the village-based poverty reduction demonstration program in rural Tanzania. The objective of the demonstration program is to introduce China’s practice in development-oriented poverty reduction on village level and its experience in helping farmers shake off poverty through agricultural development to Tanzania.



Investigating the China-Tanzania Village-level Learning Center for Poverty Reduction at Peapea

　　On July 26, Minister Fan Xiaojian headed the delegation to Peapea Village located in Rudewa Township, Kilosa County, Morogoro Region, 360 kilometers away from Dar es Salaam, and received a warm welcome from the villagers. With the company of H.E. Mr. Lv Youqing, China’s ambassador to Tanzania, Philip Mpango, General Secretary of the Planning Committee of Tanzanian President’s Office and Joel Bendera, Commissioner of Morogoro Region, the delegation investigated the communitybased development demonstration program conducted by IPRCC in the village, and attended the inauguration ceremony of “China-Tanzania Village-level Learning Center for Poverty Reduction” (hereinafter referred to as the “Poverty Reduction Learning Center”).



Concepts and Goals of the Poverty Reduction Learning Center

　　As one of the important activities conducted by IPRCC to promote China-Tanzania exchanges and cooperation
in poverty reduction, the Learning Center for Poverty Reduction in Peapea Village is the first village-level demonstration project established in Africa. It aims to solve the prominent issues in agricultural productivity by conducting f ield demonstrations and capacity development for village-level organizations and villagers, and to increase agricultural productivity and farmers’income, and reduce poverty by means of organizing small-scale and diversified demonstration activities. The demonstration program includes capacity building, technical training, agricultural demonstration, smallscale processing and irrigation as well as village infrastructure construction. Since its inception in April 2011, the program has set up a village-level learning center, built public drinking water and healthcare facilities, reconstructed village roads, demonstrated corn planting, and arranged multiple trainings for local villagers. In 2012, the corn output of households joining in corn planting demonstration doubles that of average households.



Inauguration Ceremony of the China-Tanzania Village-level Learning Center for Poverty Reduction at Peapea

　　The inauguration ceremony was held outside the learning center established by IPRCC, with the participation of
about 300 people, including Peapea villagers, local government officials and senators. Minister Fan Xiaojian and Joel Bendera jointly cut the ribbon. Lv Youqing, Joel Bendera and Philip Mpango addressed the ceremony and extended their gratitude to IPRCC for supporting the local community. They also hoped to well arrange the followup activities to make it a model for rural development and a testament to China’s friendship with Tanzania. Ambassador Lv extended his congratulations on the establishment of the center and commended the poverty
reduction model based on capacity building. In his speech, Mr. Fan said, “The inauguration of the China-Tanzania
Village-level Learning Center for Poverty Reduction is a milestone for China-Tanzania exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction. We sincerely hope that with the joint efforts of all parties, the pilot program will achieve a complete success, and the center will fully play its role as a bridge in promoting mutual development and
bilateral friendship between China and Tanzania.”After the inauguration ceremony, Minister Fan Xiaojian and Mr. Joel Bendra unveiled the signboard for the Poverty Reduction Learning Center.









　　Village representatives presented gifts to Minister Fan Xiaojian at the inauguration ceremony.

Visiting the Achievements of the China-Tanzania Village-level Learning Center for Poverty Reduction at Peapea

　　The delegation visited the newly completed learning center and ancillary public drinking water facilities, and learned how the demonstration households implemented the program. Professor Li Xiaoyun, Chief Advisor of China-Africa poverty reduction cooperation program and Dean of the College of Humanities and Development of China Agricultural University, introduced the program design and implementation to the delegation and visitors.





Visiting the Partner - China-Africa Agricultural Investment Co., Ltd.



　　The sisal farm and workshop of China-Africa Agricultural Investment Co., Ltd.

　　After the visit, the delegation also investigated the sisal farm, hospital, staff club and workshop owned by China-Africa Agricultural Investment Co., Ltd in Peapea Village. The company is not only IPRCC’s strategic partner to carry out China- Tanzania poverty reduction cooperation, but also a key prop for the village to implement poverty reduction learning program. Minister Fan Xiaojian made an inscription for the sisal farm, “You have been working so hard for the friendship between China and Tanzania!”

　　The delegation returned to Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, after the investigation on the afternoon of July 26.