The first China-Zimbabwe agricultural cooperation demonstration village has been accepted by Zimbabwe, leading to the Ministry of Land, Agriculture, Water Conservancy, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement of Zimbabwe granting a special award to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China. The award recognizes the outstanding contribution of the Zimbabwe Advanced Agricultural Expert Project, managed by the China National Communications Center. The project, which started in 2009, has provided significant assistance in agriculture and poverty alleviation in Zimbabwe, with a return on investment of 52% for 106 households in two and a half years. Zimbabwe is looking to expand this model across the country.