A Chinese agricultural mission sent to Guinea-Bissau has helped increase the rice production of the West African country, reported Xinhua, a state-run Chinese news agency.

“The mission has helped Bafata Women Association to increase rice production to 400 tonnes per year,” said António Tavares, Guinea-Bissau’s coordinator for the project, referring to the eastern part of the African nation.

Mr Tavares told Xinhua that the Chinese mission has improved the agricultural techniques of Guinea-Bissau, as well as assisting in training of locals.

“If all the other challenges can be overcome, the Bafata region, with the Chinese mission, will become Guinea-Bissau’s major base for rice [production],” he added.

The Chinese agricultural mission, composed of 15 experts across different fields, is the tenth to be sent from China to Guinea-Bissau under the framework of a bilateral agreement, Xinhua reported.

In 2014 Guinea-Bissau produced 111,000 tonnes of rice and imported 150,000 tonnes, according to the report.