Global: India, Africa and food security: Between the summits
The widening levels of inequality and poverty globally, coupled with sharp increases in the prices of agricultural products have aggravated the challenges of food security. Moreover, the diversion of land for the production of fuels (bio-fuel) in the face of environmental degradation as a result of climate change has aggravated the food crisis The recent debilitating economic slowdown has adversely impacted the situation on the African continent that is faced with a largely unsuccessful approach to agricultural production and food security and thus heavily reliant on imports and aid to meet its food requirements.
CALL FOR PAPERS
South- South Cooperation
India, Africa and Food Security: Between the Summits
January 10-11, 2011
In his closing remarks during India-Africa Summit in April 2008, the President of United Republic of Tanzania and Chairperson of the African Union Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete said one of the major concerns for Africa is food security and urged India to invest in capacity building in the agricultural sector. He stated, “Currently Africa's agriculture is peasant agriculture, traditional, plagued with low levels of production. If we are able to increase productivity in African agriculture, Africa would not only be able to feed itself, but have huge surpluses to sell to the world. India has the technology and the skills, which if made available to Africa; certainly it will help implement the African Green Revolution” (India- Africa Summit, 2008).
The widening levels of inequality and poverty globally, coupled with sharp increases in the prices of agricultural products have aggravated the challenges of food security. Moreover, the diversion of land for the production of fuels (bio-fuel) in the face of environmental degradation as a result of climate change has aggravated the food crisis. The recent debilitating economic slowdown has adversely impacted the situation on the African continent that is faced with a largely unsuccessful approach to agricultural production and food security and thus heavily reliant on imports and aid to meet its food requirements.
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) has identified agriculture as a ‘sustainable solution to hunger and poverty in Africa’ and emphasized the role of agriculture as an ‘engine of growth.’ African countries are thereby seeking to become self sufficient in food grain production by 2015. The continent has vast stretches of cultivable lands that can collectively cater to local and global demands. Indian engagement in Africa is significant in this context, particularly in the area of capacity building of the agricultural sector in Africa. The Indian green revolution in 1960s made her a food-surplus country and can be adapted on the continent. Given its good track record India can provide low cost appropriate technology to increase agricultural productivity for food and raw materials in Africa.
The Indian engagement for capacity building in the agriculture and related sectors is perceptible. The 2008 India-Africa summit facilitated this engagement at multi- levels- government to government, public-private partnerships and at the level of civil society and academia. In the aftermath of the summit, India has become a key source of financing and concessional lines of credit for agricultural projects in Africa. Instance may be cited of Tanzania that received a line of credit of US $40 million for financing the export of agricultural equipments in 2008-2009. Building close institutional links and developing a process to share the knowledge in agro-processing and related sectors will also help add value to agricultural products.
While analyzing the current scenario prospects of closer interactions and related challenges too need to be looked at. How can we strengthen genuine attempts to promote South-South Cooperation and avoid neo-colonial manoeuvres for exploiting African resources for India’s own benefits? How can we strengthen a new and different cooperation model for South-South cooperation and avoid repeating the same mistakes of traditional cooperation?
The interregnum period between the 2008 India-Africa Summit and forthcoming 2011 Summit provides us with an opportunity to deliberate on all these issues.
Within this broad remit we expect papers that will explore key areas related to Indian engagement in African agricultural and related sectors. The themes include:
• Indian private companies (case studies)
• Exim Bank’s engagement
• Indian public sector engagement
• Food security, democracy and good governance
• Role of civil society and media
• Role of regional organizations
• Food security and gender
• Food security and conflict
• Importing Green Revolution
• Bio-fuels and Food security
• Need for a legal framework
• Capacity building and technology transfer
• India-Africa South-South Cooperation framework
The conference will be of an interdisciplinary nature.
Empirical case studies are particularly welcome.
Abstracts of about 500 words and a CV of two pages with contact details should be sent as a single word file to: [email][email protected]
Funding: Local hospitality will be provided to all the participants for the duration of the conference. Limited amount of travel grants will be made available on request.
Important dates
Submission of abstracts - 15 October 2010
Notification of acceptance- 17 October 2010
Submission of completed papers – 10 December 2010
All queries should be addressed to Ms. Sudha Tiwari, Research Investigator, at: [email][email protected]
Conference coordinator
Renu Modi (Director), Centre for African Studies
University of Mumbai, India