in the same area where the project is developing agricultural activities.

"I benefited from the rice technology transfer program, and learned to produce rice using Chinese technologies on one hectare of land," she said.

"Wanbao provides seeds, herbicides and fertilizers. The company also did land leveling, water pumping and provided infrastructure and maintenance service," she said.

She said that at the end of the harvest, she sold her produce to the company. After the company deducted the initial costs of production, the remainder profits were for her to keep. "With the money, I have improved a lot my life. I have built my house and my children are going to school," she said.

Meanwhile, 62-year-old Antonio Manuel is now even teaching other farmers how to grow rice as he is heavily involvedtonnes. If the project achieves its set targets, it could potentially help Mozambique tackle the shortfall.

The Wanbao Mozambique rice farm, invested by the China-Africa Development Fund, is the largest of its kind undertaken by China in Africa. The project, a comprehensive business that incorporates plantation, storage, processing and sales, aims to develop 20,000 hectares of farmland, and will lead farmers in surrounding areas to grow crops over another 80,000 hectares.

"Agriculture requires long-term investment which means you get returns for your investment after long periods. However, the rice farm project undertaken by China demonstrates Chinese companies' efforts in giving back to Africa. The project is also in response to the actual development needs of Mozambique," Su said.

Currently, the project is being managed by the China Railway 20 Bureau Group