Diplomatist Magazine Africa Day Special 2018 | Page 33

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
challenges. Echoing this sentiment, here
we gauge the options for partnerships and
collaboration across various agriculture sub-
sectors such as land, farm mechanisation, food
processing, agri-marketing and innovations in
the agricultural space. All of these initiatives
will ultimately contribute towards achieving
the twin goals of economic growth and food
security.
Given their abundant natural resources and
enormous production potential, both India
and African economies share a central role in
ensuring global food security in the near future.
Taking into consideration the complementary
sectoral priorities and similar roles in evolving
global food markets, numerous opportunities
exist for collaboration between India and Africa
in the agricultural sector. Even though both
countries share similar sectoral characteristics,
they are at different maturity and transformation
levels. Moreover, these economies have
long recognised the benefi ts of partnerships.
With impending global production and food
security pressures, there exists an urgent need
to adequately channelise these investments
towards ‘high impact priority areas’ in order to
attain immediate and sustainable returns.
It is true that the continent has tremendous
potential of not only feeding its own population
but also a large part of the population residing
beyond its shores, provided that it gets
adequate support. In this context, India has a
huge opportunity to partner with Africa whilst
attempting to fulfi ll the ‘Feed Africa’ program.
Given the fact that India is st ill largely an
agrarian country and feeds a population of 1.2
billion people, and one that has traditionally had
a close relationship with Africa, India can share
its vast experience across the agri value chain
in enabling Africa to become a net exporter of
agriculture products. The signifi cance of the
agriculture sector in India can be gauged from
the fact that it provides a livelihood for more
than 70 percent of Indians who live in rural
areas, contributes around 18 percent to the
total GDP of India and is the largest employer
providing employment to 49 percent of the
total workforce.
Successful Initiatives by India
India has a huge
opportunity to
partner with
Africa whilst
attempting to
fulfi ll the ‘Feed
Africa’ program.
Given the fact
that India is
still largely an
agrarian country
and feeds a
population of 1.2
billion people,
and one that has
traditionally had a
close relationship
with Africa
Green Revolution
India’s 'Green Revolution' could be a useful
model if adapted to African conditions. Half a
century ago, the country had an underdeveloped
agriculture sector. In the mid-1960s and early
1970s, it faced serious food shortages, and
then severe famines in 1965-1966 in eastern
India compelled the country to look to food
aid from outside. The severity of the crisis gave
birth to a new approach to agriculture. Known
as the Green Revolution, the policy involved
improvements in technology combined with
state-led initiatives to support farmers. Less
than 10 years later, India was self-suffi cient
in cereals.
Though imperfect, the 'Green Revolution'
model offers important lessons for countries
in the sub-Saharan region. It underscores
the importance of government support for
agriculture as well as investment in technology
such as irrigation, mechanisation, and inputs to
improve yields. Sub-Saharan Africa could learn
from the Indian experience.
Contract Farming
Contract farming is another phenomenon
which has proved to be very useful in the
Indian context. Today, it is being practiced
across India and has established itself as a
win-win partnership for both the farmers and
private sector firms. Major multinationals
such as Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), Rallis,
ITC, Reliance, and PepsiCo, among others are
associated with contract farming in India. In one
such case, HUL, Rallis, and ICICI formed an
alliance with the farmers. Under this alliance,
Rallis supplies agri-inputs and know-how, and
ICICI fi nances farm credit to the farmers. HUL,
the processing company which requires the farm
produce as raw material for its food processing
industry, provides the buyback arrangement for
the farm output. In this arrangement, farmers
benefi t through the assured market for their
produce in addition to timely, adequate and
quality input supply including free technical
know-how; HUL benefits through supply-
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