Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently met with Dr. MJ Khan, Chairman of the Indian Chamber of Food & Agriculture, to explore ways to improve the lives of Indian farmers and share agricultural expertise with African countries. Dr. Khan, a respected figure in Indian agriculture, has been instrumental in initiatives such as the National Policy on Organic Farming and the Global Agriculture Leadership Summit.
During the meeting, Goyal emphasized the importance of enhancing farmers’ quality of life, strengthening India’s global agricultural standing, fostering collaboration with Africa, and transferring India’s agricultural knowledge. The focus was on developing long-term agricultural cooperation to ensure food security.
The partnership between India and Africa in agriculture aims to boost food security through technology transfer, capacity building, and private sector investments. India is actively supporting African nations in improving agricultural productivity, mechanization, and food processing to reduce dependence on food imports and promote sustainable agricultural systems.
India is actively involved in training African farmers in soil health, water management, and crop production, sharing its technological advancements in agriculture. The collaboration includes providing low-cost technology solutions, farm mechanization, and high-quality seed varieties to enhance agricultural productivity in Africa.
Furthermore, India has extended Lines of Credit (LoCs) for agricultural machinery to countries like Angola and Lesotho, supporting agri-business investments to enhance productivity and reduce post-harvest losses. The partnership also focuses on promoting climate-smart agricultural practices to combat food insecurity and strengthen food security in the Global South.
In addition to agricultural cooperation, India is assisting African nations in transitioning to green energy. Indian utilities are sharing expertise with African counterparts on grid modernization, energy storage, and integrating renewable energy sources. Collaborations like the partnership between Power Grid Corporation of India and Africa50 aim to improve transmission infrastructure and promote renewable energy utilization across countries, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
