The India and Africa Partnership in Agriculture (IAPA)
has made a debut with the mission to promote food security in their regions.
This partnership consists of Indian Council of
Agriculture Research (ICAR), International
Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
and International Agriculture Consulting Group (IACG)
that will transform agriculture in Africa and significantly contribute to the
global food security.
Director-General, ICAR, Dr. S. Ayyappan confirmed
this to NaijaAgroNet in a press
statement endorsed by IACG, revealing that the initiative would take forward
the recommendations of the critical stakeholders in India Africa partnership in
agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and agribusiness sector for
assisting African nations to realize the food and nutritional security in ways
that are environmentally sustainable.
NaijaAgroNet
gathered from Director-General, ICRISAT, Dr. William Dar that India is
committed to the sustainable agriculture development of Africa under the South -South
Initiative, emphasising, “The new platform will take on board various
stake-holders and provide the Indian expertise and experiences to support
African countries in finding solutions to their food, agriculture and
development challenges."
IACG President, Dr. MJ Khan asserted that the collective strength of three powerful partners will be able to make substantial difference to the engagement of India with the African continent, while IACG will serve as effective delivery vehicle to execute the projects and programs of varied natures, whether sponsored by Government of India or other national and international organisations or the India’s corporate sector.
IACG President, Dr. MJ Khan asserted that the collective strength of three powerful partners will be able to make substantial difference to the engagement of India with the African continent, while IACG will serve as effective delivery vehicle to execute the projects and programs of varied natures, whether sponsored by Government of India or other national and international organisations or the India’s corporate sector.
NaijaAgroNet
gathered from Ms. Sumana Sarkar representing Exim
Bank that over 16 lines of credit have been extended to African nations
with $ 649 million, about N102.2 billion being the highest for East Africa
followed by $150 million, about N23.6 billion for West Africa and $40 million ,N6.3
billion each for South and Central African nations.
Mr. Julian Parr of CIP International pointed that in
the Africa Indian partnership, learning has to be both ways, India needs to
learn from Africa and at the same there is much that Africa needs to learn from
innovation in technologies, practices, processes, institution building that has
made India reach where it is now in the field of food and nutritional security
and agribusiness development.
