India-Africa partnership for agricultural development and food security

Indian Express

a day ago

— Samir Bhattacharya
Amid rising challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, and the urgent need for agricultural transformation, the India-Africa partnership in agriculture and food security has become increasingly vital. The two countries have a long history of collaboration in this sector.
Although agriculture is a backbone for industrialisation and poverty alleviation in Africa, it remains highly vulnerable to climate risks, weak infrastructure and limited access to finance and technology.
Over the past decades, extreme weather events, including droughts, erratic rainfall, heat waves, and storms, have severely affected African agriculture. Between 1970 and 2020, droughts and heavy rain were the most frequent climatic threats, especially as much of Africa's agriculture depends on rainfall rather than irrigation. These unpredictable weather patterns cause sharp declines in productivity.
Compounding this, farmers often lack access to modern infrastructure, reliable market data, financial services, and agricultural extension support. The consequences of climate change extend beyond farmers to the entire agricultural value chain, including processors, distributors, and consumers. Addressing these challenges requires an integrated, value chain–based approach that supports climate adaptation and mitigation to ensure competitiveness and sustainability.
Africa faces a paradox. While agriculture employs nearly 65 per cent of the workforce, its contribution to the continent's GDP remains low, about 15 per cent. Additionally, Africa heavily depends on food imports. Since 2000, food imports in Sub-Saharan Africa have surged relative to domestic production. Until last year, the continent imported around $50 billion worth of food each year, and with conflicts across the world, this figure is poised to reach $90-$110 billion by the end of this year.
Africa's dependence on food imports renders the continent particularly susceptible to external shocks. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict severely disrupted Africa's food supply chains. The Russia-Ukraine war, which interrupted global exports of wheat and fertilisers, led to a substantial increase in food prices across African markets. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), between 2020 and 2022, food prices in sub-Saharan Africa surged by nearly 24 per cent.
Consequently, addressing post-harvest losses that frequently exceed 30 per cent and advancing climate-smart agricultural practices are essential to revitalise the sector and create sustainable employment opportunities for Africa's expanding youth population.
Recognising the importance of agriculture, the African Union (AU) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have prioritised agricultural development through flagship initiatives. One of AU's 'High-5' agenda, the 'Feed Africa' initiative aims to transform agriculture into a business by adding value to commodities. The initiative also seeks to lift 320 million people out of hunger while unlocking Africa's agribusiness potential, estimated to exceed $100 billion by the end of this year.
Similarly, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), under Agenda 2063, targets hunger elimination and poverty reduction by promoting sustainable land and water management, improving market access, increasing food availability, and advancing agricultural research and technology transfer.
India has become a strategic partner for Africa in its agricultural transformation. Although the partnership evolved gradually, significant growth has been witnessed in cooperation in recent years in areas such as agricultural development, food processing, training, technology transfer, and private investment. This collaboration functions primarily through bilateral government cooperation and engagement with the private sector.
On the government-to-government front, India has extended soft loans, training programmes, and technology assistance to many African countries. These efforts aim to improve farming practices, irrigation systems, soil quality, and mechanisation.
For example, Angola received a $23 million Line of Credit (LoC) from India's EXIM Bank to purchase tractors and farm machinery, alongside plans to establish a Food Processing Business Incubation Centre. Zimbabwe has benefited from support in establishing a Rural Technology Park, a Food Testing Laboratory, and a Vocational Training Centre.
Similarly, Lesotho secured a $5 million LoC for agricultural equipment, while Malawi received $1 million to develop a Business Incubation Centre offering short-term training in crop processing, composting, and briquette production.
India's private sector has also been pivotal in strengthening India-Africa agricultural cooperation. Several Indian companies have invested in food processing infrastructure across Africa. For instance, Surface Wilmar, a joint venture between Zimbabwe's Industrial Development Corporation and India's Midex Global Pvt. Ltd., invested about $1.5 million to build an edible oil production facility near Harare, which has become the largest cooking oil manufacturer in Southern Africa.
Other notable Indian firms active in Africa's agricultural sector include ETG (Export Trading Group), one of the largest integrated agricultural conglomerates operating in countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa. The African Development Bank recently approved a $1.4 million grant to support ETG's Women Entrepreneurship and Employability project, empowering 600 women-led businesses across Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia.
ZimGold invested $40 million in Zimbabwe's edible oil and margarine production, employing over 500 people. Varun Beverages committed $250 million towards bottling plants and puree processing facilities in Zimbabwe. Raha Cooking Oil opened a processing plant in Norton, Zimbabwe. Indian firms like the Asian Tea Company, Pure Diets, Rajarambapu Group, and HK Jalan Group are exploring further investments in commercial agriculture in the region.
Further, India's agricultural engagement in Africa increasingly involves trilateral cooperation with international agencies such as USAID, the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), and the Supporting India's Trade Preferences for Africa (SITA) programme. For example, through a tripartite agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), India sent agricultural experts to Lesotho to support improvements in food security and irrigation planning.
Beyond economic cooperation, India contributes humanitarian assistance and capacity building. During the drought in Zimbabwe, India sent food aid, including rice donations of 50,000 tonnes in 2003 and 500 tonnes in 2015. Similarly, Malawi was supported with agricultural equipment worth $1 million and 1,000 metric tonnes of rice during a crop failure crisis in 2020. The Democratic Republic of the Congo also benefited from India's donation of tractors and accessories.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as India's Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) have further deepened India-Africa engagement through grassroots knowledge exchange. SEWA's women-to-women empowerment initiatives adapt successful rural Indian models to promote resilience and self-reliance among African women, strengthening community-based agricultural development.
Both India and Africa face similar challenges in managing climate change impacts, demographic growth, and geopolitical instability. Africa's food market is expected to grow to $1 trillion by 2030, with food demand projected to double by 2050, presenting enormous opportunities for sustainable investment in farm mechanisation, irrigation, food processing, nutrient management, and agricultural research and development.
India's experience in integrating smallholder farmers into modern value chains, reducing post-harvest losses, and raising farm incomes offers a valuable model for Africa. India's '3A' framework – promoting affordable, appropriate, and adaptable technologies – provides scalable, cost-effective solutions tailored to African realities.
Nonetheless, strengthening India-Africa agriculture ties will require deepened bilateral and trilateral partnerships, expanded private sector involvement, and robust knowledge-sharing platforms. Such collaboration can ensure food security, foster inclusive growth and build resilient, sustainable agri-food systems across the continent.
By combining India's agricultural expertise with Africa's vast natural and human resources, this partnership can become a cornerstone for feeding the future, reducing hunger, and advancing economic prosperity in both continents.
Why has the India-Africa partnership in agriculture and food security gained greater significance in recent years?
How do shared challenges like climate change and food insecurity shape the strategic importance of India-Africa cooperation?
How have Indian Lines of Credit (LoCs) been used to build agricultural infrastructure and capacity in Africa?
What is the significance of India's private sector investment in food processing and agri-business in Africa?
How has grassroots collaboration, such as SEWA's women-to-women empowerment programs, contributed to rural development in Africa?
Read other articles from the series Conflicts in Africa
Conflicts in Africa | The Sahel crisis and implications for India
Conflicts in Africa | India's growing role in Africa's development
Conflicts in Africa | Rising tensions in the Great Lakes Region
Conflicts in Africa | Instability in Great Lakes region and implications for India
Conflicts in Africa | Sahel's strategic drift towards Russia
(Samir Bhattacharya is an Associate Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation.)
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