Dr PhD Zhang Peng and Professor Weixing Shang from Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (NWAFU, PRC) came to follow the progress of an international agricultural experiment - a variety trial of elite Chinese crops is being conducted in KRU's experimental fields.

This is not the first visit of Chinese scientists to Kostanay region. NWAFU is one of the top 3 agrarian universities in China and has been a partner of KRU since last October.

KRU and Chinese universities implement joint projects of academic and research nature. Among the latter is the variety testing of potatoes, alfalfa, wheat, soya, corn and rapeseed imported from China.

For two months, master's students from NWAFU have been observing their survival, and soon the interim results will be evaluated directly by scientists.

Active work is going on in the experimental fields,’ Baitursynuly University Rector Seytbek Kuanyshbaev told the guests. - Weather conditions this year are not the most favourable, but it will be possible to assess the quality of the harvest, of course, only in autumn. By the way, this project is of great interest to Kostanay farmers, who are ready to meet and talk to you.

Zhang Peng and Weixing Shan noted that the idea is good. According to them, in China large agricultural producers work closely with scientists, as in the end it is they who benefit from the introduction of new technologies and varieties.

Chinese scientists will stay in CRU until 9 August. Variety testing will last for 3 years. In the future, this work will be continued - they plan to create a seed production centre and a joint laboratory for virus-free potato cultivation on the basis of Baitursynuly University.