India Strengthens Agricultural Ties with Global Partners

Strategic Insights -

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, held bilateral meetings with ministers from various countries participating in the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference in India. The meetings aimed to promote Shree Anna, the International Year of Millets (IYM), and strengthen agricultural ties with partner countries.

During the meetings, Minister Tomar highlighted the importance of agriculture as a key area of cooperation between India and participating countries. He expressed hope for concrete cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors, as well as mutual benefits from sharing expertise and resources. The Minister also assured support for Guyana's request for deputation of experts to revive the sugar estates/plants in the country. India is keen to share its expertise in agriculture and allied sectors, such as development of sugar estates, and has offered to provide technical assistance, capacity building, and skill development of human resources.

Key Takeaways:

  • India and Guyana have vast potential for cooperation in agriculture and agro-processing industries, with Guyana having arable land and water availability and India possessing technology, expertise, and skilled manpower.
  • An MoU is under finalization between India and Guyana for sharing expertise and experience in the development of agriculture and allied sectors.
  • Indian experts under the ITEC program will be deputed to support the Guyana Sugar Corporation management and revive the sugar estates/plants in Guyana.
  • India has offered to provide technical assistance, capacity building, and skill development of human resources to Suriname under the India's flagship programs, development partnership.
  • India is committed to providing technical assistance to Suriname as needed, contribute to capacity building, and skill development of human resources.
  • India has offered to provide wood export facility from Suriname to India, and has also offered to depute agricultural scientists under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programs to conduct studies for the cultivation of Shree Anna in Suriname.
  • India has had cordial relations with Zambia for a long time, and Zambia has benefited greatly from India's development cooperation program.
  • India provides scholarships for various higher education courses and ITEC training slots, as well as special capacity building programs under the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) for Zambia.
  • India is one of the leading investors in Zambia with committed investments of over $5 billion, and bilateral trade between India and Zambia has been growing steadily.

Statistics:

  • Bilateral trade between India and Suriname is a small fraction of the total trade between India and other countries.
  • India has invested over $5 billion in Zambia, with a strong focus on agriculture, infrastructure, and natural resources.
  • India's exports of agri-related goods to Suriname in 2021-22 was $4.34 million.
  • The draft Joint Action Plan for 5 years (2023-27) is expected to be ready soon, with a focus on increasing trade and investment between India and Suriname.

Sources:

  • "Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar held bilateral meetings today with Agriculture Ministers of various countries participating in the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference." - (Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India)
  • "India and Guyana have vast potential for cooperation in agriculture and agro-processing industries, with Guyana having arable land and water availability and India possessing technology, expertise, and skilled manpower." - (Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India)
  • "Indian experts under the ITEC program will be deputed to support the Guyana Sugar Corporation management and revive the sugar estates/plants in Guyana." - (Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India)
  • "India has offered to provide technical assistance to Suriname as needed, contribute to capacity building, and skill development of human resources." - (Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India)
  • "India has invested over $5 billion in Zambia, with a strong focus on agriculture, infrastructure, and natural resources." - (Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India)
  • "India's exports of agri-related goods to Suriname in 2021-22 was $4.34 million." - (Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India)