At the 6th Agri-Business Conclave and Awards, veteran journalist Huma Siddiqui, known for her incisive analysis of diplomacy and global cooperation, offered a compelling perspective on agricultural partnerships between India and Africa. Though not an agriculturist by profession, Siddiqui’s three-decade-long career in diplomacy reporting gave her a unique vantage point to unpack the larger narrative of South-South cooperation in agriculture.
“I’m here today not as an agriculturist—I do not claim to know anything about agriculture,” Siddiqui began with candour. “I’m speaking as an analyst who has written on diplomacy across various sectors for over three decades. Agriculture is one important aspect of that story.”
Focusing on the theme “India-Africa Agricultural Cooperation for Global Food Security,” Siddiqui highlighted the growing significance of collaborative agricultural frameworks in the context of the Global South. She noted, “As the world grapples with interconnected challenges like climate change, geopolitical tensions, and food insecurity, South-South cooperation is no longer a choice—it is a strategic imperative.”
With India and Africa together accounting for over one-third of the global population, Siddiqui emphasised that the two regions are uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of agricultural transformation. “Agriculture is central to both the Indian and African economies—employing a significant proportion of their populations and contributing greatly to their GDPs.”
She traced the long-standing India-Africa agricultural partnership, ranging from watershed development and technology transfer to capacity-building initiatives. “The relationship has gained renewed relevance amid rising food insecurity across the Global South,” she said, adding that India’s leadership in the G20 was instrumental in mainstreaming African concerns.
“India’s G20 presidency was a turning point,” she asserted, “especially in facilitating the African Union’s inclusion as a permanent member. It promoted global discourse on food security, climate-resilient agriculture, and the bioeconomy.”
Siddiqui underscored India’s contributions in agricultural technology transfer, noting how innovations like drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, improved seed varieties, and farm mechanisation are being adopted in African countries. “These innovations have brought efficiency and sustainability to farming practices in both regions,” she remarked.
Beyond technology, she emphasised India’s role in capacity-building. “Thousands of African professionals have been trained in India through the India-Africa Forum Summit, the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, and partnerships with Indian agricultural universities.”
She was equally mindful of the lessons India could learn from Africa. “Africa’s experience in large-scale land management, traditional knowledge systems, and emerging agro-industrial parks can offer valuable insights for India,” she noted.
While acknowledging that India is largely food-secure at the national level, she pointed to persistent challenges. “We continue to face nutritional deficiencies, especially among children, along with regional disparities in agricultural output,” she said. Similarly, she flagged that Africa, despite having 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, struggles with low productivity, due to limited mechanisation, poor infrastructure, and lack of access to inputs.
“Together, India and Africa can champion a zero-hunger agenda tailored to the unique realities of the Global South,” she affirmed.
In conclusion, Siddiqui highlighted a major shift in the global governance of agriculture. “With four consecutive G20 presidencies held by countries from the Global South—Indonesia, India, Brazil, and South Africa—we have a genuine opportunity to reshape food system governance through a Southern lens,” she declared. “These developments signal a growing recognition of agriculture as a driver not just of food security, but of green economic growth as well.”
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