30-June-2025 Daily Answer Writing

Q1) What are the primary drivers and current landscape of India-Africa agricultural cooperation?

(GS 2 & 3, 10 Marks, 150 Words)

Answer:

Introduction:

The India-Africa partnership in agriculture and food security is increasingly vital, driven by shared challenges and the urgent need for agricultural transformation across Africa. This collaboration aims to foster food security and resilient agri-food systems.

Primary Drivers of Cooperation:

• Rising Challenges: Both continents face food insecurity, climate change impacts, demographic growth, and geopolitical instability. African agriculture is particularly vulnerable to climate risks, weak infrastructure, and limited access to finance and technology.
• Africa’s Agricultural Paradox: Agriculture employs nearly 65% of Africa’s workforce but contributes only about 15% to its GDP. The continent’s heavy reliance on food imports, projected to reach $90-$110 billion by year-end, makes it highly susceptible to external shocks, as seen with the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• Need for Transformation: There is an urgent need to address post-harvest losses (exceeding 30%) and advance climate-smart agricultural practices to revitalise the sector and create sustainable youth employment. Initiatives like the African Union (AU)’s “Feed Africa” and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) highlight this priority.

 Current Landscape of Cooperation:

• Government-to-Government (G2G) Support: India provides soft loans, training programmes, and technology assistance for improved farming practices, irrigation, soil quality, and mechanisation. Example: Lines of Credit for tractors in Angola and agricultural equipment for Lesotho and Malawi.
• Private Sector Investment: Indian companies have made pivotal investments in Africa’s food processing and agribusiness. Firms like Surface Wilmar (edible oil, Zimbabwe) and ETG (integrated agricultural conglomerate, supported by AfDB for women-led businesses) are key players.
• Humanitarian Assistance and Capacity Building: India offers humanitarian aid (e.g. food donations during droughts in Zimbabwe and Malawi) and agricultural equipment to countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo. Trilateral cooperation with international agencies and grassroots knowledge exchange via Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) like India’s Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) further strengthen engagement.
• India’s 3A Framework: India promotes affordable, appropriate, and adaptable technologies, offering scalable, cost-effective solutions tailored to African realities.

Conclusion:

The multifaceted collaboration leverages India’s expertise and Africa’s vast resources to ensure food security, foster inclusive growth, and build resilient agri-food systems, making the partnership a cornerstone for future prosperity across both continents.

Read More – 28 June 2025: Daily Answer Writing