Introduction

This book builds on research that was carried out by a team from the College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University, with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The study compares agricultural development between China and Sub-Saharan Africa, and reflects on the origins of agriculture in China and on the Africa continent, paying special attention to agricultural development since the mid-twentieth century, when the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was founded and African countries began to obtain independence. The comparison covers:

performance and achievements within the agricultural sector;

the origins and historical changes in agriculture;

strategies and policies related to agricultural development;

natural conditions for agricultural production;

production inputs to agriculture;

agricultural science and technology;

small farmers’ agriculture production; and

learning from outside and external support for agricultural development in China and Africa.