From "One Piece of Land" to "Ten Thousand Miles of Prairie" (Knowing Each Other Has No Distance)

(Original Title: From “One Block of Land” to “Ten Thousand Miles of Wilderness” — The Promotion of Agricultural Technology by the First PhD Student of the China-Africa Science and Technology Small Academy)

“We haven’t had many university students come here in decades. I never thought we’d have a PhD student returning from studying in China, who is now teaching us how to farm scientifically,” said Malawian farmer Ma Wu Yohani to our reporter.

Ma Wu Yohani’s family is one of the earliest beneficiaries of the China-Africa Science and Technology Small Academy in Lisasa Zai County. Now, they not only achieve self-sufficient food production but also have surplus to sell. The “PhD student returning from China” she mentioned is named Sem, the first doctoral student recruited by the China-Africa Science and Technology Small Academy.

Launched in 2019, the China-Africa Science and Technology Small Academy is a key project in China-Africa agricultural education cooperation, led by China Agricultural University and implemented in both China and Africa. The project recruits agricultural students from African countries, who are required to return to their hometowns during their studies to practice agriculture and guide farmers in production. This is Sem’s second time returning to his hometown to carry out localized practice. He is now rooted at the Lisasa Zai County Agricultural Technology Extension Station, working with partners to promote local agricultural transformation.

From “Land Nourishment” to “Pest Prevention,” Planting the “Golden Seeds” for Sustainable Development

In March, Malawi is at the end of the rainy season. Traveling from Lilongwe, the capital, about 150 kilometers to Lisasa Zai County, the latter half of the journey is along soft, rain-soaked red clay roads. Upon arrival, the vehicle is covered in mud. Outside the Lisasa Zai County Agricultural Technology Extension Station, large, orderly experimental fields are lush with green, with corn stalks growing tall and leaves shining in the sunlight after rain.

Walking through waist-high cornfields, Sem is crouched between the furrows working. He wears a black shirt and an old straw hat, the brim softened by sun and rain, brown sneakers covered in dirt, with a few corn leaves stuck to the heel.

Sem is measuring with a tape measure, fully focused on recording planting data. Sweat drips down his forehead unnoticed. “It’s the peak growth season now. We’re busy collecting data such as plant height, leaf area index, and stem thickness. Each set of data is crucial for predicting this year’s yield,” Sem said. Based on current data, he expects this year’s harvest to set a new record.

Malawi is one of the least developed countries in the world, with over 60% of the population facing food shortages. Increasing crop yields means more people can eat well and earn higher incomes. However, issues like poor soil quality and pests continue to restrict agricultural development. Whether farmers can shift their mindset is key to solving these problems.

“When I first arrived at the station in 2023, all farmers here only knew how to fertilize with chemical fertilizers. But fertilizers are expensive—about 300 to 400 yuan RMB per bag, almost a month’s income for ordinary people. So, farmers only apply fertilizer when they can get it for free. Natural fertilizers like straw and weeds are seen as trash and are burned directly, which worsens soil fertility,” Sem explained.

Lacking knowledge on how to “turn waste into treasure,” Sem went door-to-door teaching farmers how to dig compost pits, where they put straw and weeds to decompose into organic fertilizer to improve soil health. Sem said that composting and returning organic matter to the land is an important part of traditional Chinese farming techniques, documented as far back as the “Qimin Yaoshu.” Historically, Chinese farmers relied on such traditional methods to nurture land and conserve soil. Today, composting techniques are gradually being promoted in Malawi.

Sem’s pest and disease prevention plan further demonstrates China’s wisdom of “prevention is better than cure.”

“In the past, farmers here depended entirely on luck for harvests, with no proactive measures to prevent pests and diseases. Their methods were primitive—if they saw a hole in the corn cob caused by worms, they would patch it with mud. As a result, pests persisted, and yields suffered greatly,” Sem said. He repeatedly told farmers, “Prevention must come early; by the time you see the pests, it’s too late,” and “Eggs hide in the soil; you need to spray pesticides early when they hatch and are easiest to eliminate.” Over time, farmers saw results in practice and understood that pest control and fire prevention are similar—don’t wait until it burns to act. They also learned to choose low-toxicity, low-residue pesticides. “This aligns with sustainable development principles and allows China’s green plant protection experience to benefit more people,” Sem said.

From “land nourishment” to “pest prevention,” shifting from passive loss to active risk management, Sem’s small changes have planted “golden seeds” for sustainable agriculture in Lisasa Zai County.

Land “Check-up” to Make It Affordable and Understandable for Farmers

To increase yields and income, changing perceptions is just the first step. Having studied in China for many years, Sem knows that science and technology are the primary productive forces. For Malawi’s agriculture to develop rapidly, it needs to adopt advanced scientific techniques, moving from extensive to precise farming. With Sem’s promotion, China Agricultural University has provided advanced agricultural equipment to the extension station, helping local agriculture transition toward digitalization and mechanization.

Sem walks into farmer Estina’s cornfield carrying a portable soil nutrient testing kit. The kit contains various measuring instruments, neatly arranged. Taking soil samples, mixing them, and adding reagents, results are available in one minute: this land is nitrogen-deficient, phosphorus is moderate, and potassium is lacking. “In the past, tall corn stalks with small ears indicated unbalanced nutrients,” Sem patiently explains, helping Estina understand. After adjusting fertilization according to the “prescription,” the crop’s growth improves significantly. Hearing this, other farmers also seek Sem’s help to “check” their land.

Sem estimates that traditional soil testing, from sampling to lab analysis, costs nearly 30 yuan RMB per test, while using rapid testing devices costs less than one cent. Although laboratory tests are more accurate and can detect heavy metals and organic matter in depth, for field promotion, affordability and ease of use are more important.

Once soil conditions are understood and fertilization is precise, planting methods also need adjustment. Malawi farmers have long used extensive planting—scattering seeds randomly, wasting half, or poking a few seeds into holes with sticks, relying on intuition for spacing. After germination, uneven emergence occurs—big plants overshadow small ones, and yields remain low.

“Our crops are crowded together, with thin stalks and small ears,” said Anna, a farmer who sought Sem’s help a few months ago. Sem crouched beside her, drawing on the ground with a stick, explaining, “If three or four seeds are squeezed into one hole competing for water and nutrients, none will grow well. One seed per hole, with proper spacing, ensures each plant gets enough nutrients and sunlight.”

Using a small Chinese precision seed drill, Sem helped Anna and other farmers achieve single-seed planting, reducing seed use by nearly half. More importantly, spacing was fixed at 25 cm between plants and 65 cm between rows, ensuring uniform germination and growth—preventing competition and facilitating management. From a drone’s aerial view, the green corn rows are straight and orderly.

As harvest approaches, Anna’s crops are thriving, a stark contrast to the uneven fields without single-seed planting. “Many people come to learn from my crops,” Anna said happily. “Thanks to the planting techniques Sem taught me.”

Sem believes these techniques are just beginning in Malawi. He is confident that once farmers see the data, feel the harvest, and experience the power of technology firsthand, the path of agricultural extension will become broader and broader.

Knowledge Is Not Just Written on Paper, It Must Be Rooted in the Land

As night falls, the busy sounds of fieldwork gradually quiet down, and the metal roof of the extension station rustles in the evening breeze. On the wall inside, a diagram of crop growth cycles is hung, with rusted thumbtacks around the edges. Sem sits at a desk, under the glow of a desk lamp, with a thick stack of measurement data. Several agricultural books from China are spread out on the table, their edges slightly curled from age. At such moments, Sem’s thoughts drift to China.

Sem graduated from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi and then joined the Malawi Ministry of Agriculture. During his work, he traveled across large farms but often felt that the theories in textbooks didn’t match real field conditions, and he couldn’t solve farmers’ problems. In 2021, he applied for the China-Africa Science and Technology Small Academy project to study further at China Agricultural University.

“In my first class, I asked students why they chose the Small Academy. Sem was sincere and answered without hesitation—‘To learn Chinese technology and publish more papers later,’” recalled Xiao Qiang, associate professor at the College of Resources and Environment, China Agricultural University, and project leader of the China-Africa Small Academy. At that time, Sem believed that studying was mainly for publishing papers. The more articles, the greater the knowledge. But after a few months of theoretical study and an internship at the Small Academy in Quzhou County, Hebei Province, his ideas began to change.

In Quzhou County, two things deeply moved Sem.

One was the experience of sharing meals, living, and working with professors and farmers. When he learned that his mentor would also live in the fields with farmers, Sem was incredulous: “In Malawi, no professor would do that.” Xiao squatted in the furrow, discussing corn growth with farmers, holding freshly pulled weeds, with mud on his pants—scenes that shocked Sem. “If you don’t sweat in the field, why should farmers trust you?” Xiao’s words made Sem realize for the first time that knowledge is not just to be written on paper but must be rooted in the land.

The other was his interaction with the village secretary. In Guangxia Village, Quzhou County, Sem first learned about the concept of village secretary. Village Secretary and Village Committee Director Wang Yongsheng knew every household’s situation—who was a large-scale farmer, who was elderly, who had children working outside. “If you don’t understand these details, no matter how good your technology is, it won’t take root,” Wang said. Sem found this to be the grassroots secret to China’s rural development—warm, responsible, and attentive to every household.

These experiences in China prompted Sem to think deeply about how to fundamentally change Malawi’s agricultural landscape. He believes that China’s education model and farmers’ initiative are key drivers of rapid technological progress. “Chinese agricultural education emphasizes combining theory with practice, not only teaching farmers ‘how to do’ but also ‘why to do’—thinking during action and adjusting in practice. This pragmatic spirit, rooted in the soil, is what drives Chinese agriculture forward,” Sem said. He emphasizes that practicality and effectiveness are hallmarks of Chinese society. Malawi needs not only to adopt agricultural technologies but also to learn this pragmatic spirit from China.

In winter in Quzhou, Sem saw his first snow—feather-like flakes falling on dry branches, rooftops, and even in his palms. Despite the cold, a warm feeling filled his heart. When he first arrived in Quzhou, he thought he was here just to learn techniques, but by the time he left, he realized that what truly filled his heart was not just these skills but also a deeper understanding of land, respect for farmers, and a love for a better life.

What can truly change this land is making technology and experience blossom into results.

The Malawi students of the China-Africa Small Academy work in groups, scattered across various extension stations, living and working with local farmers. In Lisasa Zai County, Sem formed his own team, meeting four like-minded friends. They are all master’s students in the project, affectionately calling Sem “Big Brother.”

Sem’s team devised a “three-block” land plan: dividing land into three parts—corn as staple food, soybeans as cash crops, and the remaining land for livestock feed. The team has clear roles: Edward and Elisha handle land measurement; Manda and Quen, with less practical experience, communicate and explain to farmers. Sem oversees coordination, ensuring the plan is implemented efficiently.

Today, Lisasa Zai County’s extension station has engaged 120 “tech farmers.” Each master’s student guides about 30 households. “We value teamwork greatly. Our experience in Quzhou taught us that we can’t just focus on our own work or only serve our assigned farmers; we need to support each other when needed,” Quen said. As Malawi’s only doctoral student at the Small Academy, Sem often drives hundreds of kilometers to and from the Tuchira and Mzuzu extension stations, sharing advanced techniques. “The team in Lisasa Zai makes me very confident. Now I can focus more on nationwide agricultural extension,” he said.

As Malawi’s main agency for demonstrating and promoting agricultural technology, the Malawi Agricultural Extension Center manages dozens of extension stations nationwide. Sem understands that for the Small Academy to truly benefit Malawi, it must integrate into the national extension system and meet local needs. “We have identified four key directions: crop densification, crop rotation, maize-soybean intercropping, and soil fertility improvement. Our future goal is to ensure all farmers master these techniques and understand their principles,” he said.

How long will it take to fundamentally change Malawi’s agriculture? Sem hasn’t thought about this in detail, but he is confident that from “one block of land” to “ten thousand miles of wilderness,” more and more peers will join him.

Sem’s wife, Regina, previously worked for an NGO dedicated to improving farmers’ welfare but often saw projects stall due to lack of funding. She knows that real change comes not from intermittent aid but from truly rooting advanced techniques and experiences in the land, allowing them to blossom. In 2025, encouraged and supported by Sem, Regina resigned and joined the China-Africa Small Academy, becoming Sem’s “classmate.” She is now studying in China. When she returns, she will have one more partner working with Sem on Malawi’s vast red soil.