South Africa: contract farming boosts agriculture
In a farm in the city of Bethlehem, Free State Province, South Africa, vast green fields are thriving with maize and other crops.
The contract-based integrated farming model introduced by COFCO International, a subsidiary of COFCO Corporation, in South Africa promotes composting technology, reducing chemical fertilizer use and improving soil health.
Since 2014, COFCO International has partnered with local farmers, providing storage support, optimizing sales channels and offering financial compensation in special cases. This model is now incorporated on more than 50 farms which cover 70,000–80,000 hectares, enhancing agricultural efficiency with digital management tools.
“By leveraging its resources, technical expertise and local farmers’ planting skills, COFCO International has significantly reduced production and operational costs, improved efficiency and helped farmers increase their income”, said Oloff Bergh, Managing Director of COFCO International South Africa.
Mechanized harvesting is being carried out on cooperative farms in South Africa [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Beyond the contract model, the company actively promotes advanced agricultural management tools to enhance productivity. Its agricultural data management system supports crop planning, budgeting and input management, while a digital farming platform integrates real-time and historical data from seeders, sprayers and satellite imagery to optimize production decisions.
Bangladesh: green energy for stable power supply
The Sirajganj Solar Power Plant in Bangladesh is now operational, supplying clean energy to 65,000 households while saving 43,000 tons of coal and cutting 110,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The plant, with an installed capacity of approximately 68 megawatts, was developed by Bangladesh-China Renewable Energy Company, co-established by China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation and Bangladesh’s North-West Power Generation Company Limited.
The plant features bifacial solar panels for higher efficiency, smart inverters for stable output and reinforced foundations to withstand floods. China and Bangladesh will further collaborate on a 500 MW renewable energy project to support the South Asian country’s energy transition.
A view of Sirajganj Solar Power Plant [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Chile: advanced equipment drives metro construction
At the Santiago Metro Line 7 construction site, the shield tunneling machine “Matucana”, developed by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC), is assisting steady progress.
Work on the 26-kilometer metro line began in 2022 and will consist of 19 stations upon completion. The key infrastructure project will benefit approximately 1.6 million residents. It is also South America’s first metro project to utilize shield tunneling machines.
CRCC is responsible for constructing Section 1, a critical segment covering the route from the starting point to the city center.
Santiago Metro Line 7 Section 1 construction site [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The “Matucana”, which was officially launched in May 2024, measures 105 meters in length with a tunneling diameter of 9.83 meters. It is tasked with excavating a 6,662.5-meter-long tunnel. Designed for local geological conditions, the machine improves precision and safety while minimizing ground disruption.
“The machine is a key factor in realizing Santiago’s metro ambitions”, said Juan Carlos Muñoz Abogabir, Chile’s Minister of Transport and Telecommunications.
“It offers faster construction speeds and minimizes ground disturbances, effectively controlling surface settlement and protecting existing structures.”
(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)
