Effective and appropriate technologies transferred with great impact

I. Non-tray rice seedling raising in dry-bed nursery with parachute transplanting.

Rice is one of the staple grain crops in Liberia. At present, the total yield of rice paddy in Liberia occupies about 50% of the total consumption, so the gap between supply and demand is very big. Due to the backward cultivation technology, the average rice yield is relatively low. In 2009, the average rice yield was about 1.18 tons/hectare which make it urgent to introduce advanced rice production techniques. In order to raise the productivity, Chinese experts introduced the cultivation technology of Non-tray rice seedling raising in dry-bed nursery with parachute transplanting, and constructed 400㎡ of rice production demonstration field. Chinese team invited 120 local farmers and technicians and demonstrated the relevant skills from preparation of rice nursery to field management. As a new technology, the Liberian farmers and technicians were reluctant to accept at the beginning because they thought that the seedlings would be in wild disorder without proper spacing and the number of rice seedlings would not be ensured and that seedlings would be difficult to take roots and field management be difficult.  But after the demonstration for a whole growth period, they understood that the technology not only increases working efficiency by 5 times and reduces labor intensity greatly, but also shortens the time for seedlings to overcome the transplanting shock and accelerates tillering. The rice yield increased by more than 3 times to 8.25 tons/ha. Farmers and technicians showed a strong interest in the cultivation technology and began to recommend the technology to other farmers. As a result, Liberian Agricultural Vocational Technical College invited Chinese experts and technicians to hold 10 workshops on the cultivation technology for about 200 students. The technology of Non-tray rice seedling raising in dry-bed nursery with parachute transplanting has the advantages of reducing labor intensity, improving work efficiency and increasing the yield, which will have bright prospects for promotion.

Preparing nursery bed before seeding

Harvesting

II. Seedless watermelon high-yield cultivation technology.

Liberia has a certain area of farmland under seedless watermelon production, but the farmers mostly plant local varieties of watermelon with the low yield and bad quality, so the farmers' income is low. The Chinese SSC specialists promptly demonstrated the seedless watermelon cultivation technology in Cari Comprehensive Demonstration Site, and successfully trained the counterparts and farmers to master the practical skills of seed-shell breaking and seeds germination, raising seedlings in survival cups, pruning and artificial pollination etc. The yield of seedless watermelon in demonstration field reached 45,000 kg/ha. The biggest watermelon weighed 6.9 kg. This technology is widely accepted by farmers and technicians and filled up the gaps in Liberian agriculture. On World Food Day and United Nations Day in 2012 and 2013, Chinese SSC team specially exhibited seedless watermelons that attracted great attention of visitors. Seedless watermelon high-yield cultivation technology is suitable for high-quality watermelon production and has broad prospects for widespread application in Liberia.

Seedless watermelon exhibitedon United Nations Day

Liberian counterparts tasting seedless watermelon for the first time

III. Integrated control of pests and diseases

Liberian farmers have not too much experience in integrated control, so Chinese specialists established 1.2 hectares of integrated control demonstration field where Chinese specialists transferred the practical skills such as identification and diagnosis of the harm caused by diseases, insects and mice in rice, vegetable, corn and other crops, the pattern and statistics of pests and disease incidence, the principles on integrated control of pests and diseases, and chemical control and preparation of chemical mixture and so on. The loss of crops in demonstration field was reduced by 22.8%. The average yield increased by more than 2500 kg/ha compared with the crops without integrated control. The loss of crops in the farmer's land with integrated control was reduced by 20.1% with per capita income increased by 145 US dollars. The integrated control technology costs less and has been widely praised and accepted by the farmers and technicians.

Moth-killing lamp

Bagging of gourds

IV. Technology for pig production

The livestock production in Liberia is extensive. According to the status quo of livestock production, Chinese specialist trained the farmers and technicians on the improvement of feed formulation, selected mating, birth assistance, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, especially surgical operation, and so on, which have greatly enhanced the economical benefits of pig production. The ratio of raised pigs for sale reached 98%. The survival number of piglets increased by three heads per litter. The time for a pig to grow to 100 kg is shortened by two and a half months. A six-month-old pig increased by 260% to 90 kg from the weight of 25 kg before the application of the technology. The production cost is reduced by 30% and the income form one pig can increase by 200 US dollars. For instance, a farmer Columbus near Songhai duty station in Montserrado County trained and assisted technically by Chinese specialist, raised 88 pigs now in his pigpen. He kept 6 sows at the beginning. The average number of piglets per litter reached 9. The survival rate increased by 40% to 96%. The average weight of the sold pigs, after 210 days from birth in the pigpen, reached 98 kg with an increase of 98% in body weight and a decrease of 35% in growth period. At present, the trained technicians and farmers have shown great interest in related technology and the technology will result in a reform in livestock production.

A pig from Columbus for sale

V. The repair and maintenance of small agricultural machinery.

Small agricultural machinery is widely used in Liberia, but the professional technicians in repair and maintenance are insufficient. Chinese specialists focused on training the local farmers and technicians on the operation and maintenance of diesel engines, palm-oil processor, small-size power tiller and small-size movable combined rice husking machine. Through theoretical and practical training, Chinese specialists trained more than 150 local technicians and farmers and repaired 5 abandoned small agricultural machines. The technology laid a solid foundation for agricultural mechanization in Liberia.

Repairing an electric generator

Training on operation of a rice thresher

Training on operation of a palm-oil processor

 

 (To be continued)