Nigerian rice fields Photo: Screenshot from Beijing Daily

 

Yang Xiugang, an agricultural technician from Southwest China's Guizhou Province, has captured widespread attention for instructing local farmers in rice cultivation techniques in Nigeria, the Beijing News reported.

Yang has been providing agricultural technical guidance in Nigeria since 2017. Since he began his work there, local rice yields have increased from approximately 200 kilograms per mu to between 650 and 700 kilograms per mu (0.067 hectares), according to the report.

"It has now exceeded 700 kilograms per mu," Yang said.

Due to local security conditions and food security concerns, Yang said the local government has arranged for armed police to protect both the company and its personnel. 

During work hours, Yang is accompanied by one or two armed personnel, who then stand guard at a security post outside the compound after he finishes work, the Beijing News reported.

Yang's experience of being protected by armed personnel while teaching farming techniques in Africa has drawn significant attention on Chinese social media. On Weibo, related topics have garnered nearly 40 million views, while on Douyin, videos have received over 100,000 likes. 

Some netizens have praised his efforts, commenting that Yang is "bringing tangible skills to the African people—this is a remarkable contribution." Others commented that "being protected by armed guards sounds like a plot from a novel."

Global Times