Blaise (left) checks the African bondwe plants. [Photo/Huzhou News and Media Center]

In the early morning in Xinhua village in Changxing county, Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, Blaise from the Democratic Republic of the Congo teaches local farmers how to water African bondwe plants in fluent Mandarin.

Bondwe, with the botanical name Amaranthus, is a traditional food plant in Africa and is valued for its edible leaves, which boost immunity and improve health.

Blaise, a specialist at Changxing Tianyun Agricultural Development, is pioneering the cultivation of this African crop in Huzhou.

In 2024, Blaise joined the project with his uncle, bringing years of bondwe farming experience. However, adapting African farming methods to Changxing's subtropical climate proved challenging. "Bondwe thrives in warmth but dislikes waterlogging, and the humid rainy season here is a major hurdle," Blaise said.

Blaise and his team combined traditional African techniques with modern Chinese agricultural technology, adjusting irrigation and ventilation to optimize growth.

His innovations reduced bondwe's growth cycle from three months to two. Now, a plantation of over 20,000 square meters yields bountiful crops, with leaves selling at 10 yuan ($1.41) per 500 grams and monthly sales reaching 13,000 yuan per mu (666.67 square meters).

Blaise also shared bondwe leaf recipes with locals. Rich in vitamins and soluble and insoluble fiber, bondwe leaves have become popular among health-conscious consumers, with orders booked months in advance.