New Delhi, May 8 (IANS). Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met with Dr. MJ Khan, President, Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture and discussed initiatives to further improve the living standards of the country’s farmers, and also discussed sharing of India’s agricultural expertise with African countries with the aim of promoting development in the Global South.
Khan is a well-known Indian agricultural expert and policy analyst. He is a leading voice in the field of agribusiness, agricultural policies and sustainable development, having led initiatives such as the National Policy on Organic Farming and the Global Agriculture Leadership Summit.
“Initiatives to further improve the quality of life of farmers, strengthen India’s position in the global agriculture market, deepen cooperation with the African region and share India’s expertise in this field were discussed,” Goyal said on social media platform ‘X’.
He further said, “New ways to enhance agricultural cooperation for long-term food security were also discussed.”
India-Africa Partnership in Agriculture is a strategic alliance that aims to strengthen food security through technology transfer, capacity building and private sector investment. India supports African countries in improving agricultural productivity, agricultural mechanization and food processing to reduce dependence on food imports and promote sustainable and resilient agri-food systems across the continent.
India has already taken steps to provide training to African farmers in soil health, water management and crop production and share expertise gained from its agricultural development. Key focus areas include low-cost technology solutions, farm mechanization (tractors) and improved seed varieties.
India has also provided Lines of Credit (LOCs) for agricultural machinery to countries like Angola and Lesotho and supports agri-business investments to increase productivity.
The collaboration aims to reduce post-harvest losses and promote climate-friendly agricultural practices to tackle food insecurity. This partnership is key to strengthening food security in the Global South.
Apart from this, India is also playing an important role in promoting green energy to African countries. Indian power companies have started sharing experiences with African counterparts on grid modernisation, energy storage and integration of variable renewable energy. For example, the Power Grid Corporation of India has worked with Africa50 and other African institutions on transmission projects that can help different countries integrate solar and wind power and reduce dependence on fossil fuel plants.
–IANS
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