“We are moving from the age of food security to the age of sustainability.” With this resonant message, Ambassador V.B. Soni (Retd.) set the tone for his address at the 6th Agri-Business Conclave and Awards on May 21, 2025. Drawing from decades of diplomatic experience and India’s own agricultural evolution, Amb. Soni offered a compelling overview of how sustainable agribusiness must now serve as the core agenda of global agricultural strategies, particularly for the Global South.
Amb. Soni began by placing India’s agricultural transformation in historical context: “From being a food-deficient country dependent on imports in the 1960s, India has emerged as the world’s largest producer of milk, pulses, and the second-largest in cereals, fruits, and vegetables.” But this success story is now at a turning point. “This growth has been achieved at a cost — depleting groundwater, degrading soils, and excessive chemical use. The time has come to correct this course.”
Ambassador Soni emphasised that the focus must move beyond productivity to include economic viability, ecological health, and social equity. “Sustainability is no longer an optional value; it is the defining principle of future agribusiness.”
He pointed out that Indian farmers, scientists, and entrepreneurs are pioneering climate-smart solutions — from low-input agriculture and organic farming to resource-efficient practices like the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). “India’s farmers are innovating every day. They need enabling systems, not just schemes.”
Speaking on agri-tech, Amb. Soni highlighted India’s role as a hub of innovation but cautioned against a purely techno-centric approach. “The best technology is one that’s affordable, accessible, and addresses real-life farmer problems — whether that’s price volatility or water scarcity.”
He cited the rise of agri-startups working with drones, AI, and blockchain, but insisted that their success depends on human-centric design: “A drone is only useful if it helps a farmer spray at the right time with minimal cost. An app is powerful only when it speaks the farmer’s language — literally and figuratively.”
Amb. Soni underlined the transformative role of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
“In a country where most farmers till less than two hectares, aggregation is the key to scale, quality, and bargaining power.” He called for digital platforms that empower FPOs to connect directly with buyers, logistics, and finance. “Imagine an ecosystem where an FPO can access weather data, digital payments, quality grading, and logistics — all on one platform. That’s the future we must build.”
Post-harvest losses, estimated at 30–40% in perishables, were identified as a critical area of intervention. “Every kilo of tomato wasted is not just food lost — it’s income lost, water wasted, and carbon emitted.”
Amb. Soni advocated investments in micro-processing, cold chains, and rural food industries, especially in underserved areas. “We must bring processing to the village, not just produce to the city.”
He also noted a growing market for millets and other nutri-cereals, declaring 2025 as a defining year for their global promotion. “Millets are not just climate-resilient; they are nutrition-rich and market-smart.”
Highlighting India’s developmental partnerships with Africa, he said, “Many African countries today are where India was in the 1970s. We can collaborate not as donors and recipients, but as partners — as members of the Global South.”
He recalled how Indian expertise has helped set up soil testing labs, farm mechanisation centres, and model farms across Ethiopia, Malawi, and Rwanda. “Indian experiences with smallholder farming, agri-tech, and value chains are uniquely relevant to Africa.”
Through ICAR programs, EXIM Bank credit lines, and ITEC training, India is quietly building agri-capacity across continents. “It’s not about exporting machines, but about sharing models that work for the small farmer.”
Ambassador Soni concluded with a compelling vision for the future of sustainable agribusiness. He emphasised that sustainability must be recognised not as a constraint but as a business advantage, asserting, “Markets are now rewarding sustainable produce. Organic, water-efficient, and traceable food is not a fad — it’s a global demand.” He called for serious investment in human capital, urging that, “Agri-universities must become innovation hubs, not just degree factories.”
Highlighting the need for physical and digital infrastructure, he stressed, “Cold chains, storage, and logistics are as important as seeds and soil.” He also championed deeper global South-South cooperation, remarking, “Let us co-create an agricultural order that is green, just, and inclusive — from the Deccan Plateau to the Sahel.” Finally, he made a passionate appeal to reimagine the role of youth in agriculture, declaring, “Agriculture must become aspirational again. The future farmer must be an entrepreneur, scientist, and steward — all in one.”
Leave a Reply