The Republic of China's Agricultural Mission stationed in Malawi has constructed irrigation projects to help turn the wilderness into fertile farmland in that Southern African nation.

One of Africa's landlocked nations, Malawi has an area of 118,500 square kilometers, but a quarter of this is taken up by Lake Nyasa, the continent's third largest lake. Malawi has a population of 6 million, mostly living in the south.

Malawi is an agricultural country, but as public education is not well developed, agricultural techniques are primitive. Land is usually not put to the best use, and output is limited.

Since December 1965, the ROC's mission has been helping the Malawis to raise their agricultural standards. Currently, the mission runs five submissions which in turn supervise 12 irrigation schemes and three vegetable extension centers.

The 500-hectare Domasi irrigation scheme is one of the largest so far developed by the agricultural mission whose leader, Li Yun-hua, pointed out that construction of irrigation projects is the mission's main objective. The irrigation canal diverting water from the Domasi River has provided enough water even for rice cultivation to be carried out.

Deputy leader Chang Chang-ta remarked on conditions when the mission first arrived, "The area was covered with forest and ant hills. When we began development, the village chief mistakenly thought we were going to take their land, so they were very unfriendly. Later, after they realized the Chinese agricultural mission had come to help them raise their standard of living, there was a big change in their attitude, and they have been cooperative ever since. Before we began developing the Domasi scheme there were only 500 people living here. Now there are more than 1,400 farming families and 5,000 residents. Before there were no public facilities. Now there are two elementary schools, a market, a health clinic, and running water. It is a new community."

In 1981, after Domasi's development was completed, its operation was handed over to the Malawi government. Chinese technicians, however, are still sent there to help run it. Asked how things have been going since they took over at Domasi, a Malawi agricultural officer said, "The golden rice in the fields is the best answer!"

The Nkhate scheme located on the Nkhate River in southern Malawi was only opened up recently. Originally Nkhate was a rice producing area, and residents had to import 100,000 tons of their staple food, maize, each year. To help the government in its maize self-sufficiency program, the agricultural mission began to cultivate the crop. Today, rice is grown in the wet season and maize in the dry season.

Chang pointed out that many farmers and their families get up at 3 or 4 in the morning and go to work in the fields, taking lunch with them. Some work even on Sundays, because they know whatever they harvest is theirs to keep.

Since the mission began its operations rice production in Malawi has risen from 4,000 tons a year to 30,000 tons, not including private consumption and sales. Li Yun-hua added, "Sixteen years ago, one hectare could produce only 763 kilograms of rice, now each hectare averages 4,500 kilos, an increase of about 600 percent. In addition, the mission has also trained 1,125 agricultural workers and 6,425 farmers. Trained personnel are sent by the Malawi government around the country as agricultural officers or development planners. Most farmers just settle in the schemes where they were trained and continue farming."

Currently the mission's greatest success has been in changing the Malawis' traditional farming methods based on "looking to the heavens and plowing the field", particularly by introducing new irrigation methods. People both inside and outside the schemes appreciate the importance of irrigation now.

These successful projects have provided employment and improved living standards, thereby earning the friendship and respect of the Malawi government and people for the Chinese mission.

[Picture Caption]

1. Traditional Malawi threshing method. 2,3. Irrigation works set up by the ROC. 4. The Domasi scheme.

1. Director Li in conference with two Malawi officials. 2. Malawi farmers using threshing machinery provided by the ROC government. 3. A field inspection led by a mission member. 4. Distribution of seeds and fertilizer.

1. "Young Vanguards" planting vegetables. 2,3. Everyone is pleased with the bountiful harvest. 4. All the sewing is done by men. 5. African Kung fu.

Top: A home economics course held at one of the schemes. All domestically grown vegetables are grown on the schemes. Bottom: This village elder was originally suspicious of the mission's motives. Now, however, he is a great supporter of its work.

The Domasi scheme.

Irrigation works set up by the ROC.

Irrigation works set up by the ROC.

Director Li in conference with two Malawi officials.

Malawi farmers using threshing machinery provided by the ROC government.

A field inspection led by a mission member.

Distribution of seeds and fertilizer.

"Young Vanguards" planting vegetables.

Everyone is pleased with the bountiful harvest.

Everyone is pleased with the bountiful harvest.

All the sewing is done by men.

African Kung fu.

A home economics course held at one of the schemes. All domestically grown vegetables are grown on the schemes.

This village elder was originally suspicious of the mission's motives. Now, however, he is a great supporter of its work.