The program was intended to increase the knowledge and expertise of the African farmers in rice-cultivation, technology, production of corn, and planting and caring of coffee plants.
Kuningan, W Java (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government, through the Directorate of Technical Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has provided international training for agricultural development to the citizens of African countries through capacity building cooperation.

"We chose to conduct the agricultural training, because agriculture is the backbone of our economy," Acting Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Niniek Kun Naryatie said here on Thursday.

The International Training on Agricultural for African Countries was attended by 12 participants from 11 African countries, namely Zimbabwe, Angola, Ethiopia, Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Namibia.

The capacity development programs, held at the Rural and Agricultural Training Center (P4S), Kuningan, West Java, started from March 15 to April 30, 2017.

The program was intended to increase the knowledge and expertise of the African farmers in rice-cultivation, technology, production of corn, and planting and caring of coffee plants.

During the training, the participants will also learn how to process cassava and sweet potato. These commodities are widely available in African countries.

Niniek pointed out that the training was part of Indonesias commitment to carry out South-South Cooperation as part of the efforts to promote development cooperation among developing countries.

South-South Cooperation is part of the Indonesian political policy that helps improve the welfare of African countries.

In 2017, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to implement 15 programs of capacity building for countries in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean region.

South-South cooperation is a term used by policy makers and academics to exchange activities of resources, technology, and knowledge between developing countries.

Previously, the governments of Indonesia and South Africa explored cooperation on air transportation and railways development in Kalimantan, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi stated.

"The cooperation is a follow-up of a meeting between President Joko Widodo and his South African counterpart Jacob Gedleyehlekisa Zuma," Sumadi noted.

A South African company has expressed interest in developing railways in Kalimantan to transport coal.

"Mining field in South Africa has also developed in recent years," the minister remarked.

The transportation ministry will study the cooperation in detail.

Meanwhile, the governments of Indonesia and South Africa have agreed to increase cooperation in the field of aviation.

Widodo expected that Indonesia could be a hub for flights to Asian countries as South Africa is set to be a hub for flights to African countries.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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