By James Chatim

The Chinese government on Tuesday donated more than 20 agricultural machinery to the Azande kingdom as part of broader efforts to boost food security, promote economic stability and modernize the kingdom’s subsistence farming.

The agricultural machineries, including tractors, rotary tillers and planters made and shipped from  China, were donated by the Chinese enterprise Zhaotai Group.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at the warehouse of the second phase construction site of Juba Teaching Hospital, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Ma Qiang commended the team of China State Construction Engineering Corporation for the Project of Phase II of Juba Teaching Hospital for completing assembling the equipment and training personnel within a short period of time.

Ambassador Qiang said efforts to donate the agricultural machineries demonstrate Chinese government and its people in supporting South Sudan public’s well-being and advancing the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

The Ambassador further expressed his gratitude to the King of the Azande Kingdom, His Majesty Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue for attending the handover ceremony.

He said Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the statement on many occasions that with food, there should be no panic at any times.

Citing China as the world’s largest grain producer, Amb. Qiang said the Asian country has always put food security at the forefront. 

According to him, by continuously advancing agricultural modernization, China with less than nine percent of the world’s arable land produces about a quarter of the world’s grain, successfully feeding its over 1.4 billion population.

He underscored that apart from the country successfully ensuring that the Chinese people have enough food to eat, China has also actively provided assistance within its capacity to Global South countries, contributing Chinese wisdom and strength to the early realization of the global goal of Zero Hunger.

While receiving the Chinese agricultural machinery at the event, the Azande King His Majesty Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue said the donation will contribute immensely to the region’s agriculture. It is worth noting that Western Equatoria State, the home of the Azande people, is an agricultural rich area, and the donations will contribute immensely to mechanizing farming and increasing yield.

King Gbudue said the equipment will strengthen farming and improve food production while supporting livelihoods in the Kingdom.

Medical aid

Separately, the Chinese Medical Team donated essential medical supplies to the University of Juba Clinic as part of an ongoing partnership aimed at strengthening healthcare services for students, staff, and surrounding communities.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Dr. Zhang Erqing, leader of the China Medical Team, said the partnership’s core objective is to develop the University of Juba Clinic into one of the key medical service centres in the area.

“Through gradual improvements, we aim to enhance the medical environment at the university clinic while extending quality healthcare services to neighbouring communities. This is our primary goal,” Dr. Zhang said.

The collaboration is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health through Juba Teaching Hospital.

  Dr. Chan Deng Malual, Acting Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Juba, explained that increasing student enrolment, staff numbers, and rising demand from nearby communities have placed immense pressure on the clinic, which provides free healthcare services.