Secretary (Economic Relations) in the ministry of external affairs Amar Sinha said India was looking at a farmers' cooperative group in the African country, which can be provided agriculture extensions, better seeds and farming practices and then collect their produce through government agencies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is undertaking four-nation African tour from Thursday with an eye of energy and food security. Besides an African outreach, third at the highest level within past one-and-half month, Prime Minister will also supervise signing of an MoU in Mozambique to ensure supply of pulses from that country over next 10 years, to address the spiraling prices back at home. Since food is getting expensive in India coupled with failing monsoons, India is reaching out to farms in Africa to cultivate food.
Secretary (Economic Relations) in the ministry of external affairs Amar Sinha said India was looking at a farmers' cooperative group in the African country, which can be provided agriculture extensions, better seeds and farming practices and then collect their produce through government agencies. Since leasing of land in these countries by richer countries has come under attack, India is treading cautiously. "Rather going for long term lease of lands, we are trying to build a win-win situation," he said.
As per the proposed MoU, India will provide a minimum guarantee of purchasing 1,00,000 tonnes of pulses every year. Also India has also assured a minimum support price (MSP) to African farmers, a practice in vogue back in India. Mozambique produces around 70,000 tonnes of pulses, including tur, annually. The demand for pulses in India is estimated at about 23.5 million tonnes as against an output of about 17.06 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year (July-June), which is marginally lower than last year's figure of 17.15 million tonnes.
From Mozambique, Modi will travel to South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. In South Africa, the Prime Minister will have meetings with President Jacob Zuma and other senior leaders across the political spectrum to further enhance cooperation in defence and other sectors. Prime Minister will be in Tanzania on Sunday, a rare honour, as most countries don't entertain state visits on Sundays. In Kenya the Prime Minister will address students in the University of Nairobi during the visit.
"The visit of the Prime Minister to the African mainland reflects India's desire to further strengthen and reinvigorate bilateral ties with our African partners which were renewed at the successful IAFS-III in October last year," said a statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs.
This is third highest level visit over past one-and-half month, starting with vice-president Hamid Ansari visiting Morocco and Tunisia on May 29 and then President Pranab Mukherjee to Ghana, Ivory Coast and Namibia.
Such high-level contacts were necessitated following spate of attacks against African nationals, in which a Congolese man lost his life, after being allegedly assaulted in Delhi. African missions in India had strongly reacted and even threatened to boycott Africa day event, organised by ministry of external affairs.
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