China is building an agricultural research centre near Maputo in Mozambique, reports Macauhub.

The Agricultural Technology Research and Transfer Centre is being built near the Umbeluzi Agricultural Station, and should be completed by the first quarter of 2010. It is the result of an agreement between the Mozambican and Chinese governments’ Science and Technology and Agricultural ministries.

The centre is one of two agricultural research centres being built by China and will boast agricultural laboratories and crop-testing areas, and will also undertake aquaculture research. The Chinese government is investing a total of US$700 million in the centres.