Trainees observe mushroom samples at the China-Rwanda Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center in Huye District, Rwanda, on July 17, 2025. (Photo by Huang Wanqing/Xinhua)

By Dowell Sichitalwe

In recent years, a Chinese innovation known as Juncao technology has gained ground across Africa, drawing praise from agricultural experts and farmers alike for its transformative potential in food production, livestock feed, and environmental conservation.

Originally developed in China, Juncao—meaning “mushroom grass”—is a hybrid species cultivated to grow edible mushrooms. Yet its versatility has revealed broader applications: improving fodder supply in drought-prone regions, restoring degraded soils, and generating income for rural communities.

At the center of its African expansion is a series of regional training workshops, the latest held from July 16–23 in Rwanda’s Huye District. Co-hosted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, the event gathered agricultural officers, educators, and development experts from across the continent.

Among them was Innocent Shayamano, chief agriculture extension specialist from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. He emphasized Juncao’s alignment with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 agenda, noting that the grass offers a viable substitute for cotton waste—a traditionally used substrate for mushroom cultivation that has become increasingly scarce and costly.

“Juncao technology can transform lives,” Shayamano stated. “Its yield of over 200 tonnes per hectare provides a cost-effective and sustainable solution, especially in regions affected by climate change and fodder scarcity.”

With five Zimbabwean farmers accompanying him to the workshop, Shayamano underscored the importance of knowledge transfer. These participants will return home as lead trainers, tasked with scaling the technology in their communities and catalyzing its widespread adoption.

Nigeria is also embracing the innovation. Farmer Abbas Ahmad Umar, attending his first Juncao workshop, referred to it as a “grass of grace.” For him, its multifunctionality—serving as mushroom substrate, livestock feed, and an agent for soil erosion control—makes it a game-changing solution for smallholder farmers.

“My goal is to raise awareness in Nigeria, especially among youth and women,” Umar said. “I’m confident that Juncao will help address poverty and promote sustainable farming in underserved areas.”

Countries such as Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria now represent a growing movement toward regenerative agriculture powered by Juncao. As regional partnerships deepen and community-based training expands, the technology is poised to play an integral role in reshaping Africa’s agricultural future—from nutritional resilience to rural prosperity.