Rice
In the mid-1990s, Taichung #10 long-grained, nonglutinous rice began to be brought along as technical missions from Taiwan traveled to far-off lands, including Africa. Mission members work side by side with locals as they open up irrigation canals and plant the golden stalks of rice in every corner of this land, formerly known as the "Dark Continent."
After the land has been cleared for cultivation, tribal chiefs parcel it out to the people. Those who work hard benefit and watch their incomes steadily increase. Those who don't, don't. After a while, the industrious ones buy the rice paddies belonging to the less diligent and after a few years they build new homes with their hard-earned money.
Paddy rice differs from traditional African upland rice in that it has a better mouth feel and the grains are plumper and don't break as easily. Furthermore, paddy rice crops that are patiently cared for, weeded, and fertilized have a higher economic value. In West Africa, farmers use direct deepwater seeding to prevent damage from salt, birds, and weeds. Farmers in southern Africa benefit further from paddy rice crops in that two crops can be harvested annually, compared to only one of upland rice.
Technical missions to Africa train locals to cultivate and the scale of farmland in some regions is quite impressive. In Wovue, a northern district of Malawi, for example, a total of 224 hectares of land have been converted into paddies. Based on the idea of "teaching to fish, rather than giving a fish," missions turn land brought under cultivation over in stages to local agricultural organizations or governmental agricultural agencies for management.
Unfortunately, the people of Africa aren't as hard-working as their Taiwanese counterparts. Also, due to cultural differences, after a few years, lack of upkeep in farmland areas results in blocked irrigation canals and worn out and damaged farming equipment. In the end, large expanses of arable lands shrink for lack of anyone to care for them. It truly is heartbreaking to watch.