African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 154: Chapter 144: Agricultural Research Institute

August 19, 1868.

In Berlin, the Heixinggen Consortium reached agreements with several German research or academic institutions,

to provide funding and experimental land for establishing a research institute dedicated to studying local agricultural crops and tropical plants in East Africa—the East African Agricultural Research Institute.

”Pleasure to collaborate with you, Professor Anton Peruz!” Ernst raised his glass towards Anton Peruz.

Anton Peruz downed his drink and said, ”All for Germany!”

As a tropical agriculture expert in the German region, Anton Peruz had a pretty difficult time before accepting the invitation from the Heixinggen Consortium.

While colleagues from other countries traveled the world, with their own experimental fields and ample funding, Anton Peruz could only conduct his scientific research in a small laboratory in Germany.

And Germany completely relied on imports for tropical crops; the local nobles were only interested in improving the yield of their own farmland.

Germany naturally favored a temperate climate, so all research funding and talent were inclined toward crops suitable for local growth.

No German noble had any interest in tropical crop research, much less investing in a project that was destined not to be profitable.

Compared to other disciplines within Germany, research on tropical crops was virtually nonexistent, which was the worst for Anton Peruz.

However, the emergence of the East African colony changed this situation. Now Germans had a massive tropical colony.

Moreover, the agricultural conditions of this colony were quite good. To not waste the land’s natural gifts, local agricultural research had to be emphasized.

The purpose of founding the East African Agricultural Research Institute was to fully develop the agricultural potential of East Africa.

Although East Africa’s climate conditions aren’t particularly unique, similar to the Brazilian plateau and others at the same latitude,

every place has its own characteristics that need to be discovered slowly.

Previously, East Africa’s colonies adopted a borrowed approach, directly applying tried and tested cultivation practices from around the world or hiring experts in relevant fields.

The work of the East African Agricultural Research Institute mainly involves breeding, crop disease prevention and control, increasing grain yield per unit area...

To support the work of Anton Peruz and others, the Heixinggen Consortium provided eight experimental sites, covering over three hundred acres.

From the coastal plains to the inland plateaus, from the arid northern desert edges to the southern humid areas, and along the shores of East Africa’s three Great Lakes, experimental locations were established.

”Professor Anton Peruz, rest assured working in East Africa; we will provide every support your team needs as much as possible, and our company will always take care of your families,” Ernst said to Anton Peruz.

”Thank you, Your Highness, for your contribution to the German agricultural enterprise.” In front of his benefactor, Anton Peruz dared not boast, especially since the benefactor had a status of a top noble.

”No need to thank me; it’s my duty. Because of the effects of fragmentation, Germany lost many interests worldwide, allowing other countries to grow bigger and stronger overseas. Now Germany is getting closer to unification, and in the future, we will certainly expand our own interests overseas.

Therefore, what you and I do is merely laying the groundwork and making preparations for the future German nation’s overseas expansion. By then, Anton Peruz, your research results will surely be renowned,” Ernst painted a grand vision.

But Anton Peruz believed it. Over the years, as German nationalism awakened and the rapid rise of Prussia, German regions witnessed fast industrial development.

The confidence of the German populace grew stronger, now just waiting for a chance for Germany to soar, and that opportunity would naturally be the Franco-Prussian War.

Like many Germans, Anton Peruz believed that Germany was one of the greatest nations, so he was confident in Ernst’s words about Germany opening its interests overseas in the future.

”Your Highness, the German people will also remember the great achievements of the pioneers. I’m just a minor agricultural expert, and compared to what you’ve done, it’s not worth mentioning,” Anton Peruz flattered.

”There are no noble and humble in careers; in my eyes, what you do contributes to the entire world. Let’s strive together, strive together!” Ernst praised without reservation and toasted Anton Peruz.

At the banquet, glasses clinked, and everyone was satisfied.

A few days later, at Hamburg Port.

”Mr. Anton Peruz, hello!”

”And you are?”

”I am the East African staff here to receive you; you can call me Daniel Zhang. I’ll assist you on your voyage to East Africa, ensuring a good journey. If you need anything, please let me know.”

”Hello, Zhang, thank you for your company’s support of our mission,” Anton Peruz said politely.

”It’s our duty, sir. Please follow me; we’ve already reserved rooms for you on the ship,” Daniel Zhang said, picking up Anton Peruz’s luggage and leading the way.

Soon, the group arrived at the ”Meili”, a large oceangoing ship built by Hamburg Heixinggen Shipyard itself.

”Daniel Zhang, I see many Germans on this ship; are they all heading to the East African colony?”

”Yes, sir, these are immigrants going to develop in East Africa. Now East Africa is a crucial choice for many Germans, with nearly two million Germans already there,” Daniel Zhang introduced.

”I see! But two million Germans? The East African colony couldn’t possibly have so many!” Anton Peruz was skeptical.

You should know that even in Germany itself, there are few states with a German population exceeding a million, so how could a relatively unknown colony have so many Germans? Anton Peruz naturally wasn’t convinced.

”Mr. Anton Peruz, in East Africa, the existence of other ethnic groups isn’t acknowledged; all residents must learn German culture, and everyone who sincerely converts to German culture is automatically classified as German,” Daniel Zhang explained.

”I see, so you...”

”Yes, I’m a German, having studied and graduated from the Heixinggen Military Academy.”

Anton Peruz had no idea which school the Heixinggen Military Academy was, but he knew the name Heixinggen.

Looking at the yellow-skinned German in front of him, Anton Peruz felt a certain strangeness, but he said nothing.

After all, this was cultural assimilation! Intellectuals like Anton Peruz and other German elites were the leading forces promoting German nationalism.

For Anton Peruz, everything about Germany was the best. Although the policies of the East African colony seemed somewhat mixed, making a genuine German cultural person like him a bit uncomfortable, if it used his national culture as the core of assimilation, it was acceptable.

Take the Austria-Hungary Empire, for example; national fusion isn’t impossible. The problem is both Austria and Hungary wanted to use their culture as the core to integrate other ethnicities, which naturally couldn’t succeed.

East Africa, however, always centered around Germany, and even in education, German was used, making those assimilated willingly so, avoiding Austria-Hungary’s troubles.

One crucial reason was the East African immigrant population lacked intellectuals like Anton Peruz.

If you invited a batch from the Far East with a bit of culture, though they might not speak up, they’d surely secretly form connections, much like those family forces in Southeast Asia with cultural heritage.

Therefore, importing many illiterates into the East African colony was also to reduce assimilation costs. Those educated in non-German languages had long-established thoughts that weren’t easily changed.