February, 21^st till 24^th, 2023

Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board hosted a four-day African Regional workshop on applications of Juncao technology and its contribution to the achievement of sustainable agriculture and sustainable development goals. The workshop provided an opportunity to equip policymakers, experts, and smallholder farmers in Africa to learn more about the benefits of Juncao technology as well as enhance the capacities of these groups with the requisite know-how to transfer Juncao technology in their respective countries, adapting it to their specific circumstances.

Hence, the workshop aimed to enhance knowledge and strengthen the national capacities of participating countries to improve their policies and programs supporting sustainable agriculture and protecting the environment through the transfer of Juncao technology. In the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the workshop will highlight the benefits of South-South and Triangular Cooperation as a means of enhancing access to science, technology, and innovation, knowledge sharing as well as capacity building and to effectively contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Speaking at the event, Dr.   Alexandre Rutikanga, the Director General of RAB, stressed Rwanda's goal to improve mushroom production by embracing the Juncao technology so that it produces bigger yields in order to satisfy domestically and promote mushroom exports.

The African Regional workshop on applications of Juncao technology was convened in the context of UNDESA’s mission to advise interested governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in UN conferences and summits into programs at the regional level and, through technical assistance that helps build national capacities. Capacity building activities are also aimed at strengthening and maintaining the capabilities of states and societies to design and implement strategies that minimize the negative impacts of current social, economic and environmental crises and emerging challenges. As a cross-cutting entry point, capacity building activities promote the integration of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into national sustainable development planning frameworks, sharing lessons learned and good practices through workshops and related events.

In that regard, UN DESA is collaborating with the National Engineering Research Centre for Juncao Technology of the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) of the People’s Republic of China, under the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund, on a project entitled “Enhancing the capacity of developing countries to achieve sustainable agriculture through the transfer of Juncao technology for alleviating poverty and promoting productive employment”. This project is linked to issues that are important to developing countries, including eradication of poverty, reduction of hunger, use of renewable energy, promotion of employment, protection of the environment and responsiveness to climate change. It fits the special conditions and needs of many developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and has the potential to help developing countries overcome development challenges and advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

His Excellency WANG Xuekun, the Ambassador of China to Rwanda explained to participants that Juncao Technology is a sustainable farming technique for ending poverty as it is affordable, high-yielding, and ecologically friendly.

This technology, which is being transferred to developing countries through south-south cooperation and upon request, allows farmers in developing countries to grow several types of nutritious mushrooms from dried, chopped grasses, without cutting down trees and damaging the environment. Such an environmentally-friendly technology can help small-scale farmers and farming communities to develop a low-cost, commercial-scale mushroom cultivation industry that can provide a sustainable livelihood for thousands. In addition, the technology can also be used for producing cattle feed, methane gas and minimizing soil erosion to combat desertification. In the long run, depending on local demand and the scale of production, it may also provide opportunities for exporting the mushrooms cultivated using the technology.

Hence, the mobilization of capacity building and the transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries such as the Juncao technology contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs. DESA, in partnership with FAFU, will continue to work with the Government towards ensuring that poor rural women and unemployed young people have sustainable livelihoods and decent employment through support to capacity-building efforts aimed at promoting agriculture. When successfully implemented, the Juncao technology will contribute to addressing poverty, employment and environmental concerns in rural areas.

The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) that has the central role in overseeing follow-up and review of implementing the goals and targets at the global level has also underlined and reiterated the importance of supporting developing countries in their efforts to implement the SDGs and advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The African Regional workshop on applications of Juncao technology and its contribution to the achievement of sustainable agriculture and the sustainable development goals convened beneficiaries of countries in the African region, including policy makers, agriculture, food and nutrition experts, entrepreneurs, experts from the National Engineering Research Centre for Juncao Technology of the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) of the People’s Republic of China, China-Rwanda Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center, and the United Nations and delegates from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Eritrea and The Democratic Republic of Congo.