Namibia: Namibia is seeking to deepen agricultural cooperation with China by prioritising technology transfer and encouraging Chinese companies to establish local assembly plants for agricultural machinery. During a visit to the Sichuan Agriculture Research Station - part of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's State visit to China - Minister of Agriculture Inge Zaamwani praised the facility's advancements in crop production, high-yield seed varieties, and agricultural technology.According to Namibia Press Agency, the minister expressed her admiration by stating, 'It is very impressive what they are doing here. The production, the quality of the plants they are producing, the yield per hectare, the number of times you can harvest per annum, and most importantly, the technology that is very critical to this type of activity.' The minister stressed that Namibia's priority is to ensure that cooperation with China extends beyond importing machinery to include technology transfer and local industrial development.Z aamwani highlighted Namibia's interest in technology transfer, suggesting the potential establishment of an assembly plant in the country. 'For us who would be interested in technology transfer, we would probably want to ask them to set up an assembly plant initially, with spare parts, because one of the biggest challenges is that when equipment breaks down, we cannot easily find spare parts. But if they are assembling it at home and have spare parts available, then it is a lot better for us,' she explained.The visit to the research station demonstrated technologies that could significantly benefit Namibia, especially as the country seeks to enhance agricultural productivity under increasingly arid conditions. The Sichuan Agricultural Research Station showcased several drought-tolerant, high-yield maize varieties designed to improve food security and climate resilience.The station presented the Chengdan 372, a high-density hybrid suitable for both grain and silage production, which recorded demonstration yields of 21.3 tonnes per hectare in 2025, setting a new yield record for Southwest and Southern China. Researchers also introduced Chengdan 30, a drought-tolerant hybrid with a robust root system, low water loss through transpiration, and resistance to major maize diseases, achieving yields of 19.2 tonnes per hectare and cultivated on more than 667,000 hectares across China.Additionally, Chengdan 716 was highlighted for maize-soybean intercropping, featuring high-density planting, lodging resistance, and high starch content. This variety is suitable for mechanised farming and food processing. Scientists are also conducting ongoing research on the genetic and metabolic mechanisms that enable maize to withstand drought, using integrated genomic and metabolomic analysis to develop more climate-resilient crop varieties.The State visit is part of efforts by the Namibian delegation to bolster bilateral cooperation with China in agriculture, innovation, and investment, focusing on improving food security and bu ilding local capacity through technology transfer.