Extraordinary And Plenipotentiary Diplomatist July 19 Edition . | Page 38

AFRICA DIARY
AGRICULTURE TRADE
TO GAIN POSITIVE TRACTIONS WITH
ENHANCED COOPERATION
BY DR. HANISH KUMAR SINHA*
I
ndia and Africa together constitute about one-
third of the world’s population and are seen
as investment hotspots of the global economy
and both have comparable agro-climatic and socio-
economic conditions, which create the potential for
enhanced cooperation in this sector. The trading
relation between India and Africa dates back to over
thousands of years when Indian traders fi rst sailed
to the east coast of Africa in search of agricultural
and animal products, gems and minerals. India is
one of the fastest growing economies in the world
at present and Africa is also experiencing rapid
growth. Trade and investment has always been
a critical dimension of the India-Africa relationship. India
is Africa’s third largest trading partner, with over USD 70
billion in trade and over USD 50 billion in investment.
Trade between the two regions has grown signifi cantly from
5.63 Lakh MT in 2010-11 to 70.03 Lakh MT in 2018-19. The
agricultural sector in Africa has great potential to contribute
to this growth, with the continent having almost 60 percent
of uncultivated land in the world and currently producing
only 10 percent of the global output. India is committed to
helping Africa implement its development agenda not only
by providing credit facilities, but also through investments
and partnerships in varied sectors, with agriculture as a
frontrunner.
Africa has changed from a net exporter to a net importer
of agricultural products. Up to the early 1990s, sub-Saharan
38 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 7 • July 2019, Noida