Agriculture is not merely an economic activity in India; it is a way of life. At the 6th Agri-Business Conclave and Awards, Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), explored the enduring relevance of agriculture in India and Africa, the inequities in global trade, and the growing need for South-South cooperation.
“Agriculture lives in the spirit of the people of this country,” Prof. Joshi began, grounding his remarks in the deep emotional and socio-economic connection India shares with its agricultural sector.
With close to 45–50% of India’s population still dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, Prof. Joshi emphasised the sector’s foundational role. Yet, paradoxically, agriculture contributes only 15% to India’s GDP, highlighting a troubling imbalance between the number of people it supports and the economic returns it generates.
India and Africa: Shared Histories and Common Challenges
Prof. Joshi acknowledged the presence of African delegates, reflecting on his own deep association with the continent. “Once upon a time, I travelled only and only to Africa. I can claim with no hesitation that I know Africa better than most Africans—I worked across 33 countries during the India-Africa Forum Summit from 2008 to 2013.”
He recounted the colonial legacy of countries like Mauritius, where Indians were transported as indentured labourers to cultivate sugarcane, and later, cotton. Prof. Joshi lauded Mauritius’s transformation into a global financial hub and noted a striking statistic:
“Almost 38% of the FDI into India comes from Mauritius, a country with a population less than that of many Indian towns.” Such examples, he noted, show how countries can successfully reposition themselves in the global economy. However, both India and Africa still grapple with structural inequalities in agriculture.
The Global Inequity in Agricultural Trade
Using comparative global figures, Prof. Joshi unpacked the structural injustices in international agricultural trade. “India has 1.7 million hectares of land, of which 53% is cultivated. No other country comes close. China, the US—maximum 17%, 13%.”
Yet, countries like the United States, where only 1–2% of the population engages in agriculture, account for a dominant 18% of global agricultural exports, thanks to 25 times higher productivity and large-scale mechanisation.
“The Western world will never understand the sensitivity of livelihood in agriculture. In India, agriculture is about survival, not just business.”
He linked these disparities to historical injustices: slavery, colonialism, and exploitative labour systems. “The biggest markets for slavery were not in India—they were in Europe. London had human breeding farms, and newspapers advertised slaves for sale.”
Trade Barriers: A Silent Threat to Farmers
One of the most critical parts of his address was his critique of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and protectionist trade practices. He cited the stalled Doha Round of WTO negotiations, where agriculture remains a contentious issue.
“The biggest drag in international trade is what we call non-tariff barriers—SPS, TBT, and now CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism).” He warned that CBAM could raise prices of agricultural exports by 15–30%, disproportionately affecting developing countries. Similarly, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) threatens to limit exports from countries like Ghana and Kenya, where products like cocoa, tea, and coffee are integral to rural economies.
“Compliance costs are so high that our products become incompetent. They talk of sustainability, but we are not allowed to export because of their own definitions of what is sustainable.”
The Call for South-South Solidarity
Prof. Joshi reiterated the need for stronger South-South Cooperation to counter global trade injustices. “There is a lot of similarity between India, Africa, and other South Asian countries. India is committed—we’ve already been granted $1 million to train African entrepreneurs in international trade.”
He advocated for value addition through agro-processing, not just cultivation, as the next frontier for agricultural transformation in developing economies.
Globalisation and Its Discontents
Reflecting on the retreat of globalisation, Prof. Joshi criticised the return of erratic tariffs and broken supply chains: “We all grew up researching globalisation—produce anywhere, market anywhere, no boundaries. But today, the average tariffs America imposes are as bad as they were 100 years ago.”
He lamented how arbitrary tariff decisions and disrupted supply chains have left businesses confused and farmers vulnerable.
Culture, Empathy, and the Indian Way
Bringing in a philosophical dimension, Prof. Joshi spoke about cultural paradigms in diplomacy and trade. “Indian culture, which we call high-context, is based on relationships. China has ‘guanxi’—a concept of trust and networks. Japan too. But the Western world is rational, not emotional. They calculate; we connect.”
This relational approach, he argued, must also guide trade partnerships and agricultural cooperation.
Towards an Equitable Agricultural Future
Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi’s remarks were both a critique and a call to action. It exposed the systemic biases of global trade, highlighted the tenacity and resilience of Indian and African farmers, and envisioned a more collaborative South-led framework for agricultural development.
“Africa is amazing, people are amazing. Governments may not be—but people are,” he said with a smile.
In his words and presence, Prof. Joshi reminded everyone that agriculture is not just a policy domain—it is a matter of identity, justice, and humanity.
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