The World Bank has projected that agriculture and agribusiness in Africa will grow to be a US$1 trillion industry in Africa by 2030.  With half of the worlds unused and arable land, Africa has the untapped and unlimited potential to feed the world.  Rural areas, being the home to 60% of the 1.2 billion population means that more than 70% of the population is involved in some form of small scale farming.   This also means that productivity remains low and underachieved and far from global output standards.

According to a Mckinsey report in February 2019 entitled, “Winning in Africa’s Agricultural Market”, Africa could produce two to three times more cereals and grains than it currently produces, which would add 20 percent more cereals and grains to the current worldwide 2.6 billion tons of output.  Similar increases could be seen in the production of horticulture crops and livestock.

The challenge to gear the output to these levels is complex, but with time, training and investment, it is achievable.  Before developments in seed quality, soil cultivation techniques, fertilizer and equipment can even be considered, the pre-growth building blocks need to be cultivated along with it.  That would mean, basic infrastructure, access to markets and financing.  

With similar challenges faced by India in previous years, it needed to find ways to develop it’s agricultural sector to feed a growing population.  The “Green Revolution” model adopted by government and implemented across states, included private sector support, as well as inclusion of small farmers and SMEs.  This is exactly where the value will lie in developing the sector in Africa.

With this background the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) proposes to organize a Digital Exhibition and Conference on India-Africa Partnership in Agriculture & Food Processing on 23 – 24 June 2020.