Joint German-Chinese Ganhe Demonstration Farm to be continued for 3 more years

AFC together with its partner DLG International was awarded the second service contract for the project „ Joint German-Chinese Ganhe Demonstration Farm” by BMELV (Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz / Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection). The project duration for the second phase is 01/2012 – 12/2014 and the budget is 1.2 Mio EUR. The project originally started in 2008, partners now are the companies Claas, Lemken, Grimme, Rauch. The project helps to modernize agriculture and create a higher profit for farmers due to increased yields and a more cost effective production. The Demofarm combines German technology and farming best practice with Chinese 1,000 ha land and staff. Main aspects in the second phase will be: 1. German agricultural equipment is being tested on Ganhe demofarm under local conditions. The main focus lays on efficient and sustainable land use. 2. The Sino-German Ganhe farm aims at exchanging information between Chinese and German agricultural experts. After the end of the project, Chinese farmmanagers will be trained to lead the demonstration farm. 3. Scientific studies and several field trials accompany the daily work on Ganhe farm. The results are strategies for long-term sustainable agricultural production and economic analysis related to the use of German equipment. On this basis Chinese authorities and farmers can decide about future use of German agricultural equipment and production systems. 4. Qualification of Chinese staff: The German expert trains Chinese management as well as technical staff in Ganhe. Further more, a group of Chinese joins a study tour to Germany once a year in order to get to know diverse agricultural farms and companies. In 2012, the Chinese delegation is invited to come to Germany in June. DLG Fielddays will be one highlight in this study tour. 5. Information dissemination is a key component of the Gahne Demofarm project. Annual press conferences are held in Beijing each spring. Interested specialists are invited to join field days in Ganhe each Summer. This year, the Fieldday in Ganhe will be held on July 18. The team of German and Chinese experts, headed by Horst Bunge, teamleader, will show German agricultural machinery as well as field trials. For further details, please visit: www.ganhedemofarm.cn.