KeFAAS, in partnership with China Agricultural University(CAU), China Agricultural Association of Science, International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CYMMT), and FAO are working on a program within the Sin-Africa Science and Technology Backyards (STB) which is a multi-actors innovation platform for Africa Agriculture Green development.

The initial step of the program was to recruit Master’s degree students from (Africa-Kenya), Currently, three students have been recruited, One from KeFAAS Secretariat, and two from the county government of Murang’a. The three students applied for admission to CAU, qualified, admitted to the University and secured scholarship for the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC). They later applied for their Visa interview with the Chinese Embassy, and one has secured his Visa. The team will be leaving for Beijing on 6^th September 2024. The course work will take three years , with their second year serving as a field work here in Kenya.

The team visited Murang’a county government to agree on the site for the field demonstration, they held a meeting with the county leadership which included the CEC for Agriculture, trade and cooperatives, His Excellency the governor, and the chief officer of Murang’a County Government.  The county government has requested for immediate collaboration with the partners especially on Maize and sorghum value chain which are a priority in the county. This can be taken up by CYMMT as we work around establishment of STB, in Kenyatta Agricultural Centre at Mariira where the field demonstration will take place.  KeFAAS Country Focal person guided in the introductions of the mission and the objective of the visit.

The governor welcomed the team to the county and appreciated the collaborations, he gave an overview of the Murang’a County flagship projects being implemented at the county, and the achievements so far. This includes, health (Kangatacare, maternal health support programme), Smart city (Road and storm water drainage), Agriculture (Mango/milk subsidy GMR), Education Bursary, Uji programme for all ECDEs, EDCE centre establishment, Automation (Digitalization of revenue collection, land management, hospital operations, and all county processes), Murang’a Youth Service-The MYS programme which employs 1050 youths across the county every three months. The governor demonstrated the automation The team lead prof Jiao, explained the program to the governor and invited him to China to see the STB centre in China. The team then proceeded to Mariira Farm to meet the team there. In Mariira, the team met the principal and his team, there were given an overview of the Sino Africa Science and technology backyard (STB), which is a novelty approach to empower small holders in rural areas. The team was shown the facilities and the farm which was ideal for the collaborations. A plaque was on the collaboration was established.