India To Unlock Africa's Agribusiness Potential

The National Seed Association of India is partnering Syngenta Foundation India in the "India Africa Seeds Bridge" project. It is aimed at developing the seed system in Africa through providing African farmers better seeds and making market access for Indian seed companies.

Africa and India are running seed trials in Senegal for commercial cultivation. Once approved, the trial data will be used for automatic approval for release of millet and sorghum varieties in 15 ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo verde, Cote D'ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togolese.

Diran Makinde, director of the African Biosafety Network of Expertise, says African regulators can benefit from the Indian experience and data accumulated. Last October, policy makers from Burkina Faso had come on a study tour of Indian Bt cotton farms.

There is also talk of setting up seed incubator facilities for private-sector entrepreneurs in Africa and building Africa's capacity for seed research.

Marechera says that India's model of small seed companies based on lesser investment has potential in Africa.

Biotechnologists from some African countries like Nigeria are already in touch with India's agriculture ministry and seed companies to build partnerships.

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