Zhang Shihong (R), head of the Chinese agricultural expert team, talks with locals at Godino Jitu Village in Oromia Region, Ethiopia, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang)

ADDIS ABABA, 2025 — In Ethiopia’s Oromia Region, integrated farming is reshaping rural livelihoods through a collaborative poverty reduction project led by Chinese agricultural experts. At Godino Jitu Village, smallholder farmers are adopting diversified systems that combine crops, livestock, aquaculture, and horticulture, creating new pathways to food security and income generation.

For Asnakech Sitotaw, a single mother of five, the transformation has been profound. Once struggling to produce enough food from her small plot, she now manages a productive homestead with a backyard garden, fish pond, and poultry house. She credits the Chinese experts for providing high-yielding seeds, modern farming inputs, and practical training that have revolutionized her approach to agriculture. “In the past, our harvests were meager, mainly due to a lack of high-yielding seeds and knowledge of modern farming techniques,” she said. “The experts equipped me with skills that changed everything.”

The initiative began in May 2024, when the fourth batch of Chinese experts launched a three-year poverty reduction project in partnership with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture and local authorities. Drawing on China’s own rural development experience, the program introduced advanced farming techniques, mechanization, water-saving irrigation, and diversified production systems. Team leader Zhang Shihong explained that the goal was to apply China’s poverty reduction strategies to Ethiopian villages, strengthening food security and resilience.

The impact is already visible. Wheat yields in Godino Jitu have risen from 4.2 tonnes to nearly 7 tonnes per hectare this year, according to deputy administrator Assefa Gudissa. Farmers like Abu Negash have built backyard fish ponds and are preparing to expand into poultry production, creating integrated systems that combine aquaculture, crops, and livestock. Gudissa emphasized that the experts’ contributions extend beyond agriculture, noting their collaboration with a local telecom provider to erect a new signal tower, improving connectivity and supporting community development.

The project has also delivered tangible assets. More than 70 pieces of agricultural equipment have been donated to the village, including tractors, threshers, seed drillers, planters, chick incubators, artificial insemination tools, and solar-powered insecticidal lamps. These resources are expected to accelerate mechanization, reduce labor burdens, and enhance productivity across the community.

This initiative reflects the growing scope of China-Ethiopia agricultural cooperation and demonstrates the potential of integrated farming systems to lift rural households out of poverty. For families like Sitotaw’s, the benefits extend beyond income, offering more diverse diets, stronger resilience, and renewed optimism for a self-sufficient future. “I hope that with their continued support and our strong commitment, we will continue to witness remarkable changes in our overall livelihood,” she said.