African nations look to India for seeds, farm inputs

Participants of the 2^nd Africa-India Agricultural Economic Mission
during the Business to Business (B2B) meeting in Hyderabad

17 December 2011. Hyderabad, India. 2nd India-Africa Economic Mission laid groundwork for South-South collaboration. It was organized by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Brussels-based EMRC International.

The 25-member mission from Nigeria, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Chad, Malawi and South Africa comprised of academicians, planners and strategists, top executives and technical directors of private firms brought together by the economic need and the desire to ensure sustainable development in Africa.

In addition to the discussions, the field visits and the knowledge sharing, several Business to Business (B2B) meetings allowed the participants and their Indian counterparts to get down to business and forge partnerships.

KK Sharma of ICRISAT and Idit Miller
of EMRC International at the B2B meeting.

“It was an eye opener for me. During the B2B, I explored various business opportunities in India. Our population is far less than that of India but still lots of people sleep hungry. I want to use the technologies of India and implement them in our country,” says Mr Muhammed Nurallah Abubakar, Executive Director, Livestock and Fisheries Development and Marketing Company, Federal Ministry of Nigeria. “This was a great initiative by ICRISAT and EMRC. I have been in touch with the ICRISAT office in Nigeria since 10 years to understand various agricultural technologies. Setting up an agribusiness platform in Nigeria will be a great help to our country,” he added.

“B2B meetings are essential and one of the main reasons for taking part in these economic missions. One needs to be introduced to the most fitting business partner,” explains Idit Miller, EMRC International’s VP and Managing Director. “This mission emphasizes the need for private and public sector dialogue and partnerships”.

Related:
EMRC supports AFRICA op 8 dec 2011. Idit Miller on Voxafrica TV talks about the promotion of SMEs in Africa.

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India, Africa to cooperate for increasing agricultural output

25 May 2011. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Africa and India laid the foundations for a stronger partnership with the adoption, by proclamation, of two key documents i.e. the Addis Ababa Declaration and the Africa- India Framework for Enhanced Cooperation. It sets out specific agreements to cooperate in the following areas: economic; political; science, technology, research and development; social development and capacity building; health, culture and sport; tourism; infrastructure, energy and environment and media and communications.

India has decided to send teams of farm experts to African countries to explore ways of helping the Africa to improve its agricultural practices. The Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) teams would visit Ethiopia, South Africa, Zambia and other countries of the African continent in June. The Indian teams would make trips to agricultural fields in these countries and interact with the farm scientists to get a first-hand knowledge of the cultivation processes there.A report would be submitted to the government after the trip to chalk out how best India could help African nations improve there agriculture, the ICAR official said.

"This is to study agriculture there and explore role for India to help train manpower in the farm sector there', Deputy Director General (DDG), Education, ICAR, Arvind Kumar

75 students from African continents would be enrolled every year from now onwards in varied agri universities to learn about latest know hows in the sector. As part of the past Indo-African programme, 49 students of African origin are studying presently in different agriculture universities in India.

India, Africa and Food Security: Between the Summits,

09 March 2011. SOUTH- SOUTH COOPERATION. This is a report of a conference held on the 10th and 11th of January 2011. Organized by: the Centre for African Studies University of Mumbai.

The conference on South- South Cooperation (SSC): India, Africa and Food Security: Between the Summits, was organized in collaboration with Nordic Africa Institute (Uppsala, Sweden) and the World Trade Centre with support from the Ministry of External Affairs (Government of India) and the South-South Cooperation Unit (UNDP, New York).

The India-Africa Framework for Cooperation, adopted at the end of the India-Africa Forum Summit April 9, 2008, at New Delhi, identified the development of sustainable agriculture as a key priority in the burgeoning partnership between India and Africa.


The scholarly papers presented at the conference touched upon themes spanning a number of disciplines that cut across; history, gender studies, politics, media, economics, sociology  and development studies. The conference  provided an opportunity for  dialogue between parties that held  diametrically  opposing views on a number of issues related to land and agriculture and  the phenomenon of  alleged  ‘land grabbing’ by foreign firms, including Indian companies, which has been controversial in the past and continues to be hotly debated.

The conference proceedings aims to offer policy oriented solutions and provide for better informed investments and improved relationships between the countries of the  global South as we move into the next decade. The research papers that were presented will be compiled in a publication that will fill in the academic gap/literature on the subject of Indian investments in agriculture in Africa.


Conference Report, SSC- India, Africa and Food Security January 2011.pdf

Announcement: Joint call for collaborative projects under the Sustainable Crop Production Research for International Development (SCPRID) Initiative

11 January. Research funders from the UK and USA, and government departments in the UK and India have yesterday (11 January) announced a new £20M/$32M joint research initiative.

Up to £20M is available through the Sustainable Crop Production Research for International Development (SCPRID) initiative, which is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Department for International Development (DFID), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Department of Biotechnology of India's Ministry of Science and Technology and Indian Council of Agricultural Research

The focus of the programme is on research to understand and counter the effects of abiotic (drought, temperature, salinity, nutrient deficiency etc) and biotic stresses (pathogens, pests, weeds) - including combinations of stresses - that constrain food crop production in developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Funding will be awarded to teams that can show that their research can improve food security and increase sustainable crop yields within the next 5-10 years.

The emphasis will be on the following staple crops: cassava, maize, rice, sorghum and wheat. A proportion (~15%) of the available funding will be allocated for work on other important crops but support is unlikely to be provided for research on 'niche' crops with the potential to enhance the livelihoods of only small groups of people.

For more details about the call and to view the call documents, please click click here. The deadline for submission of outline proposals is 31 March 2011.

Related:

Members of the BBSRC and Global Food Security research communities were in attendance at CropWorld 2010. Staff from BBSRC's Swindon office captured some of them on camera at the Global Food Security exhibit in the Science Zone. Watch the video for a taste of what was discussed.

BBSRC Chief Executive Professor Douglas Kell, Professor Maggie Gill, Chief Scientific Adviser - Rural Affairs and Environment, Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate, Scottish Government and Professor Maurice Moloney, Director of Rothamsted Research feature alongside researchers from UK universities and research institutes.

BBSRC coordinated the Global Food Security exhibit and speakers from the BBSRC and Global Food Security research community gave talks in both the congress and exhibition throughout the three days of CropWorld 2010. Global Food Security is a multi-agency programme bringing together the food-related research interests of Research Councils, Executive Agencies and Government Departments. The exhibit was the focal point for discussion about how the programme partners are working together to maximise their effectiveness and impact in meeting the food security challenge.

Consultative Conference, Seminar-cum-Workshop on India-Africa Agri-Partnership

27 March, 2010. Patiala, India. A delegation of ambassadors and high commissioners participated in a conference on opportunities for agriculture in Africa and a business meeting in Patiala.

African countries are eyeing Indian technology and expertise, especially from Punjab, to bring in a green revolution that will help them ensure food security and even export food grains to other countries.

'With a proven, impressive track record in the field of agriculture, India is a role model for us. We are hoping to bring the same green revolution in Africa that India saw many years back,' told Jose Maria Morais, Mozambique high commissioner in India.'Ninety percent of our population is living in the countryside and is engaged in agriculture. Agriculture is our government's priority and there is huge scope for Indian farmers and investors. In fact, to attract Indian farmers, our government is offering them countless tax benefits and other incentives,' he said.

Reference:

28/03/2010 Africa looks up to Punjab for 'green revolution'

LifeLines India: Success stories of farmers

LifeLines, a technology-based helpline service, is helping initiate a small revolution-of-sorts in the lives of rural communities in India by enabling them with access to critical knowledge and livelihood information just on the dial of a phone.

An initiative of the OneWorld International Foundation, in collaboration with British Telecom and Cisco, the Lifelines service, was introduced as a digital inclusion initiative to help developing-world communities bridge the digital divide and better their livelihood and income opportunities.

The service is based on the premise of leveraging ICTs a mix of internet and telephone technologies - to enable the provision of essential information, advice and guidance to remote and rural communities in India through the medium of voice and in the local language.

Information service for rural farmers in India among the 008 Tech Awards Laureates

The Tech Awards, presented by Applied Materials (Nasdaq:AMAT), and a signature program of The Tech Museum of Innovation, announced 9th of September the 2008 Tech Awards Laureates, 25 global innovators who are applying technology to benefit humanity and spark global change. This esteemed group of Laureates was selected from hundreds of nominations representing 68 countries.

In addition to the 25 Laureates being honored, Professor Muhammad Yunus, pioneer of microcredit and founder of Grameen Bank, will receive the 2008 James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award, honoring individuals whose broad vision and leadership are helping to address humanity’s greatest challenges.

Established in 2001, The Tech Awards recognize 25 Laureates in five universal categories: education, equality, environment, economic development and health. These Laureates have developed new technological solutions or innovative ways to use existing technologies to significantly improve the lives of people around the world. One Laureate in each category will receive a $50,000 cash prize during the annual Awards Gala on November 12.

This year, the 2008 Laureates represent the truly global vision of the program, spanning countries such as Senegal, Peru, Hungary, Canada, Namibia, Germany, Egypt, India, United Kingdom, Laos and the United States. Their work impacts people in many more countries worldwide.

Below are some of the 2008 Laureates and a brief description of the winning projects.

Lifelines, OneWorld South Asia: Lifelines is a telephone-based information service for rural farmers in India that uses a Cisco Unified Messaging platform incorporating Interactive Voice Response functionality, integrated with a Customer Relationship Management application and information database. http://uk.oneworld.net/article/archive/9790

Solar Electric Light Fund: Washington D.C.-based Solar Electric Light Fund developed a solar power drip irrigation system to help farmers in rural Benin, West Africa, cultivate their crops. The technology eliminates the need for fossil fuels and battery use currently used in irrigation methods in developing countries. http://www.self.org/

Biomass Energy Project, Cheetah Conservation Fund: Namibia-based Cheetah Conservation Fund’s Bush Project is a biomass processing plant that uses a high-pressure extrusion process to convert invasive bush into a clean and economically viable alternative to existing products such as firewood, coal, lump charcoal and charcoal briquettes used for cooking fuel and barbecues. http://www.cheetah.org/

Adaptive Multimedia Information System (AMIS), DAISY Consortium: DAISY Consortium provides open source software to read text to impaired people in 20 languages using AMIS software, which implements synthetic speech to make text and multi-media information available to people who have visual impairments, cognitive or learning disabilities such as dyslexia, and people who are unable to hold a keyboard or printed publication. http://www.daisy.org/

Key Features of the LifeLines Agriculture service:

Expert advice on integrated pest management (IPM) methods has helped farmers to improve their input efficiency. Solutions are made available to farmers within 24 hours. Information available on more than 50 different fields of agriculture and allied activities covering a complete chain of information from production to consumption, including information on:

• Farm inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides
• Funding schemes
• Government schemes on loans and subsidies
• Banking and insurance
• Market prices
• Region specific market information
• Agriculture news
• Organic farming

The types of queries addressed till date include some of the following:

• Insect, pest and disease management
• Market information and commodity prices
• New varieties of crops
• Government schemes for crop insurance and loans
• Watershed management and micro-irrigation
• Seeds and fertilizers
  

References

• The Tech Museum Tech Award Laureates
• LifeLines India

The role of private foundations and emerging donors in the agricultural and rural development sector

CTA in partnership with the European Commission-DG Development and EuropeAid, the EU Presidency, the ACP Secretariat, Euforic and Concord (European platform of development NGOs) organizes bimonthly Development Briefings in Brussels to raise awareness on key rural development issues with the ambassadors of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) and EU policy-makers.

The next Brussels Development Briefing will be held on 2nd July and will discuss the issue of "New Players, New Drivers in Development", looking more specifically at the agricultural and rural development sector in the context of ACP countries, the role of private foundations (Bill Gates, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, Rockefeller Foundation etc) and the role of emerging donors (China, India, Brazil, Japan) in ACP countries.

The discussions will fit into the coming Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to be held in Accra on 2-4 September 2008.

E-Agriculture in India: An Interview

Agriculture in India is considered to be a primary occupation for a major segment of population in India. A vast majority of rural population depends upon agriculture as their primary occupation. However, agriculture in India is in doldrums and needs rejuvenation. In this interview with Mr. Praveen Dalal, the Leading Techno-Legal ICT, Cyber Security and Cyber Law Specialist of India and Managing Member of AFPOH, the agricultural development aspects are analysed keeping in mind the benefits of e-agriculture in India.

Farmers in India must use Information and Information Technology (ICT) for agricultural purposes.

How can ICT be used for strengthening agriculture in India?
India’s food production and productivity may be increased by an effective use of ICT for agricultural purposes. The Developed Nations are using laser technology instead of tractors to plough lands. This helps in optimising the use of various inputs such as water, seeds, fertilisers, etc. The problem is that Indian farmers cannot afford this technology and unless government comes in support for agricultural infrastructure the same remains a dream only. Further, power and electricity also remains a major problem for Indian farmers and alternative means of power like solar energy panels, regulated and optimised by ICT, can be a blessing for them. Thus, e-agriculture in India can put India on the higher pedestal of Green Resolution making India self-sufficient in the matters of food grains.

What are the advantages of ICT/e-agriculture in India?
Some of the benefits of ICT for the improvement and strengthening of agriculture sector in India include timely information on weather forecasts and calamities, better and spontaneous agricultural practices, better marketing exposure and pricing, reduction of agricultural risks and enhanced incomes, better awareness and information, improved networking and communication, facility of online trading and e-commerce, better representation at various forums, authorities and platform, etc. E-agriculture can play a major role in the increased food production and productivity in India.

Reference and full interview:
Legal News and Views Friday, April 18, 2008

Related:
Seminar on Meeting Information and Knowledge Needs of Farmers in Africa Through e-Agriculture
The Africa Chapter of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD) has announced a one-day seminar on "Meeting Information and Knowledge Needs of Farmers in Africa Through e-Agriculture" to be held as a pre-SCECSAL XVIII Conference event at the Lusaka Hotel in Zambia, on 14 July 2008. The seminar will examine some e-agriculture initiatives in Africa, the potential role of information professionals in e-agriculture, and the need for information professionals in Africa to participate in the e-Agriculture Community of Expertise global initiative.

Evaluation report on ICT4Dev
2008:07 Sida's support to Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) for Development (En, PDF 228kB)
This report is part of Sida Evaluations, a series comprising evaluations of Swedish development
assistance.

India Africa Project Partnership 2008

The largest ever India-Africa conclave, being held in New Delhi from March 19-21, is expected to discuss 131 projects worth 10 billion dollars.

The conclave will highlight Africa's potential as an investment venue and increase economic cooperation between India and the nations of the African continent. Vice Presidents of Tanzania and Ghana and 37 African Ministers are among the 925 delegates who will participate in 'The India Africa Project Partnership 2008', organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the EXIM Bank, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of External Affairs.The conference will focus on four main areas: Technology, agriculture, human resources and energy.

The conference will enable Indian investors to interact with key people from more than 35 African countries on one platform.

The ELISA chairperson Yizzaw Assefa invited Indian investments in Ethiopian leather industry for production of quality leather products. He also invited Indian Companies to participate in the 2nd All African Leather Fair scheduled to be held in January 2009.

Reference:
'India-Africa conclave to discuss projects worth over 10 billion dollars' Daily India 14/03/2008
India tries to woo Africa in trade and investment Financial Express 24/03/2008

The mobile revolution: hope or hype?

Fill the Gap! -5 has been looking on Friday 11th January 2008 into the theme of mobile telephones and discussed with (African) experts from the field about the use and added value of mobile phones for sustainable development and a better world.

Special guests:
 Ethan Zuckerman, founder of http://www.globalvoicesonline.org
 Christoph Stork, senior researcher at the LINK Centre/Research ICT Africa (RIA) at Wits
University in Johannesburg, South Africa.
 Firoze Manji, Director, Fahamu - Networks for Social Justice
 Mr. Shafiu Shaibu Programme Officer, Social Enterprise Development Foundation of West Africa (SEND Foundation) : market information for farmers
 Lotte Pelckmans, researcher at the African Studies Centre.
 Wilbur Perlot, De Balie and Bahram Sadeghi, TV producer and presenter of a.o. Waskracht

You can wath a number of interviews with the guests on Fill the Gap! -5

Related:
Mobile communication services to farmers in rural areas of Rajasthan, India
Could A Mobile Phone Replace A Bank Branch?
Mobile Phones Expand Access To Financial Services

eAGRICULTURE India 2007

Left to Right: Samir Gupta, Jt MD, Samtech Infonet; Donald Taylor, Chief of
Party, GMED; K. S. Money, Chairman, APEDA; U. K. S. Chauhan, Agricultural
Marketing Advisor; Lamon Rutten, Jt MD, MCX

eAGRICULTURE India 2007 which was held in New Delhi from 31 July - 3 August 2007 aimed to understand the role of ICTs (information and communication technologies) in agricultural development. It featured seven sessions looking at ICTs in relation to agricultural policy, agriculture marketing, education, credit, insurance, extension, and resource management.

Among the recommendations:

• there needs to be a "bottom-up approach to ICT implementation in agriculture."
• "academic and research data in agriculture – available in the form of journals and research paper needs – needs to be digitalised to facilitate cross-flows of information"
• "using ICTs for timely market and weather information is key to development in the farming sector."
• "ICTs can be used to integrate the small-scale farmers and thereby increasetheir bargaining and negotiation power."
• Cross-pollination of information is required amongst the farmers, the scientists, ICT solution providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders."

To "facilitate" these recommendations, the report concludes that some "basic challenges" need to be overcome: Real time content; Cost of equipment; Non-availability of complementary infrastructure – power, roads, storage, connectivity, etc.; Capacity of grassroots farmers to avail and use the ICT solutions; Access in geographically difficult terrains such as mountains and deserts; and overcoming the initial inertia to adopt the latest technologies.

Farmers in India overcome language barriers

Web2.0 tools.
02 Oct 07
Farmers in India overcome language and literacy barriers through Web2.0 tools.

Listen to Dr. Jayanta Chatterjee, Professor at the Department of Industrial Management and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (mp3).

ftp://ext-ftp.fao.org/Radio/MP3/2007/Web-2-0/J-Chatterjee-India.mp3