Photo provided to China Daily

Things have changed since then. "Now, in big farming areas, farmers have learned to plant in rows, to thin out seedlings, and to use fertilizers at certain times. So yields have improved," he said.

"But the thing is, Ethiopia has not yet reached that stage of living organically, as in some developed countries. Many people still suffer from hunger and malnutrition, and food security is the fundamental issue for the country, so we need to raise productivity first."

The program is now so well known among Ethiopian farmers that when locals are asked what they think of Chinese in the country, their answer comes down to three things: "Made in China", "China road" and "Chinese teachers".

On one occasion Peng was traveling to a tourist site south of Addis Ababa. As he wandered along a dusty road, a dilapidated mini-bus pulled up, the driver craned his head out the window and shouted, "Mr Peng".

The driver told a bewildered Peng: "I was in your class, but you expelled me because I got an F in one course."

Peng says it was an awkward moment, but he realized how rewarding his work could be.

"The locals are very engaged in learning about modern farming technology, and I know they are eager to learn. They are very open-minded. I hope this program can help more families to eat well and live well."