NOUAKCHOTT, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- During China's Spring Festival holiday, Zhang Hong'en and his colleagues remained far from home, fully dedicated to their work at the Livestock Demonstration Center in Mauritania.

The center housed nearly 400 head of cattle, while the experimental plantations of Juncao grass and alfalfa required constant care.

From Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, a desert highway leads to the village of Idini, where the center is located. Upon entering, the harsh sandy landscape suddenly gives way to a scene full of vitality. A fountain sits at the center of a roundabout, while spacious, smooth cement roads extend in various directions. Peacocks stroll leisurely and tortoises move at their own pace.

More than 80 percent of Mauritania's territory is covered by desert. Scorching heat, drought, poor soil quality, and violent sandstorms make it extremely difficult for plants to survive. When Zhang first arrived in Mauritania in 2011, he was determined to transform this arid land into a flourishing green oasis.

In 2017, China-backed technical cooperation for the Livestock Demonstration Center was officially launched in Idini. Today, the site has become a "second home" for Zhang and his four colleagues, while Mauritania has become their "second homeland."

Over the years, Chinese experts have successfully introduced alfalfa and expanded its large-scale cultivation, helping alleviate the local forage shortage. As a result, multiple varieties of forage plants have now taken root in the Sahara Desert. Between 2020 and 2024, the team developed about 20 hectares of desert land for forage plantation trials.

In October 2023, Zhang brought Juncao grass seeds to Mauritania from a field in China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. He conducted comparative experiments on irrigation, fertilization, planting distances, and other parameters to develop a cultivation method suited to the local climate.

"Alfalfa thrives in cooler climates, while Juncao is heat-resistant. These two plants complement each other perfectly in Mauritania's climate, ensuring a continuous supply of forage for cattle and sheep throughout the year," he explained.

According to Zhang, the director of the livestock center, Juncao grass has a dense root system that can cover the soil in just three months and reach depths of up to three meters, making it an effective solution for soil stabilization and desertification control. This trait is particularly significant for Mauritania, where desert encroachment poses an increasing threat.

Amir Abdou, a livestock farmer from Idini, recalled a time when his village was surrounded by barren, sandy terrain. "Our sheep either starved to death or remained weak," he said.

"Thanks to the Chinese experts who taught us how to cultivate Juncao and other plants, we finally have enough forage to feed our livestock. Today, I raise ten sheep, all in excellent health. Thank you, my Chinese friends!" the farmer said emotionally.

The demonstration center is not only focused on cultivating forage plants suited to Mauritania's climate but also collaborates with Chinese companies to select and breed resilient cattle. These techniques and results are then shared with key livestock-raising areas across the country.

By deploying selectively bred cattle, large-scale comparative trials are conducted using big data analysis. "A small sample size has little significance. Only with tens of thousands of samples can we obtain meaningful results," Zhang explained.

Follow-up studies have shown that the first generations of cattle introduced into local farming areas have begun reproducing, and their hybrid offspring are highly valued by local herders. At the invitation of Mauritanian livestock authorities, Chinese experts from the center regularly visit the country's major pastoral and agricultural regions to provide technical advice on livestock breeding and forage cultivation.

"I'm getting older, but my dream is just beginning. Contributing, even just a little, to China-Africa cooperation and bringing more greenery to the Sahara, this is my lifelong mission," Zhang added. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)