India turns to Africa to check mounting prices of pulses

NEW DELHI: India plans to take its cooperative farming model to Africa to control mounting prices of food, especially pulses, back home and bolster economic ties

NEW DELHI: India plans to take its cooperative farming model to Africa to control mounting prices of food, especially pulses, back home and bolster economic ties with the continent while avoiding the contentious issue of leasing land.

HT Image

Under the cooperative model, India will identify a network of farmers with the help of local agents and provide them seeds and other improvements.

These farmers will also be assured of New Delhi buying their product at a rate not less than the minimum support price of the same produce in India.

This policy, officials say, will help the country stay away from the politically sensitive issue of leasing land for farming, which often leaves countries such as China facing charges of land grab in a continent with bruising memories of centuries of colonial occupation.

The first phase of this policy was inaugurated on July 7 when India entered into a government-to-government pact with Mozambique to import pulses India currently faces a shortage of 7.6 millions of tonnes of pulses, a staple source of protein for many and has been taking several import measures to meet the shortage. Some pulses have been selling at 200 a kilogram in recent times, and rising food prices push up retail inflation too.

And looking at Africa for import is a viable option on many counts.

Africa has almost 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land. Agriculture cooperation will also help leverage economic ties between India and countries in the continent.

India believes replicating its cooperative model in farming is the best option available to ensure a steady supply of agriculture produce.

What is being looked at with Mozambique can be expanded to other countries, said an official.