India has urged the country to reposition its agricultural sector to attract investment, strengthen climate resilience and unlock value-chain development opportunities.
The call came ahead of the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS), which brought together African leaders, ministers, investors and policymakers in New Delhi from May 28 to 31.
Speaking ahead of the summit, the Indian High Commissioner to Lesotho and South Africa, Prabhat Kumar, said Lesotho stands to benefit significantly from stronger agricultural partnerships, technology transfer and climate-smart infrastructure investment through deeper cooperation with India.
“India is part of the developing world and the Global South. It is in this context that it is joining forces with Africa to share best practices,” Kumar said, stressing that India is looking forward to partnering with Africa.”
His remarks come at a time when Lesotho’s agricultural sector continues to face mounting pressure from climate change, declining productivity, rising food imports and limited agro-industrial development.
Hosted by the Government of India in partnership with the African Union Commission, the India-Africa Forum Summit focused on strengthening political, economic, trade and development cooperation between India and African nations.
According to the High Commission of India, the summit seeks to deepen long-standing relations between India and African countries through collaboration in key sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education, trade and technology.
“India is expecting a strong African participation, in view of the fact that India-Africa relations are anchored in a long-standing historical bond characterised by solidarity, shared aspirations and converging interests,” he said.
The summit programme will unfold in three phases: Senior Officials Meetings on May 28, Foreign Ministers’ consultations on May 29, and the Heads of State and Government Summit on May 31.
Kumar says his country’s broader partnership with Africa is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 development vision and India’s own long-term development roadmap, Viksit Bharat 2047. The cooperation framework is guided by ten principles announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kampala in 2018, focusing on local value creation, technology transfer, capacity building and people-centred development.
Agriculture is expected to feature prominently in discussions, particularly on climate resilience, food systems, and agricultural industrialisation.
Kumar further encouraged Lesotho to explore membership in the Cotton Development and Research Association (CDRA), arguing that the country could benefit from India’s extensive research and practical experience in cotton production and value chain development.
The CDRA, which operates under the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), works closely with India’s ministries of Agriculture and Textiles to strengthen cotton production systems through research, farmer training and technology promotion.
Founded in 1970, the organisation supports farmers through initiatives such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Integrated Plant Protection (IPP), Integrated Nutrient Management and farmer training programmes aimed at improving yields and reducing production costs.
The organisation has also played a major role in scaling technologies such as High-Density Planting Systems and Extra-Long Staple cotton production in India.
Kumar suggested that Lesotho could leverage such partnerships to strengthen its own agricultural systems and improve productivity.
The High Commissioner also revealed that India is currently engaging Lesotho in discussions around the possible acquisition of agricultural equipment, although no formal agreements have yet been announced.
While declining to comment on possible bilateral agreements expected during the summit, Kumar expressed optimism about the meeting’s outcomes and said Basotho businesses would also have an opportunity to showcase their products at the summit exhibition.
With a population of approximately 1.4 billion people, India has emerged as one of the world’s leading agricultural producers despite facing many development challenges similar to those confronting African nations.
India is among the world’s largest producers of rice, wheat and spices, and Kumar noted that the country recently became the world’s biggest rice producer.
He argued that India’s agricultural research, technologies and experience in supporting smallholder farmers could provide valuable lessons for Lesotho as it seeks to modernise its own agricultural sector.
Kumar also pointed to India’s growing economic footprint across Africa, noting that Indian businesses have invested approximately US$80 billion on the continent, including operations in Lesotho.