The U.S. Agency for International Development and India will be boosting their collaboration on improving agricultural productivity in the Asian country and in Africa under a new partnership that aims build on lessons learned from previous U.S.-India cooperation in agriculture.
Under the partnership, USAID will help introduce agriculture technologies and innovations to smallholder farmers in India and several African countries. The agency will also support the development and deployment of sustainable food systems.
A key part of the partnership is the Agriculture and Food Security Program, which aims to establish a new model for global collaboration in agriculture. The program includes transferring technologies and innovations to African countries. It will focus on four areas: harnessing new technologies to boost food security and make agriculture more climate resilient, agriculture conservation and natural resources management, agricultural extension and development of human resources, and institutional capacity building.
In line with this new partnership, USAID and the U.S. Department of Agriculture co-hosted the Agriculture and Food Security Expo in India. The expo, which his also supported by the Confederation of Indian Industries, showcased efforts of various U.S. and Indian universities, civil society groups and private corporations to develop tools and and technologies that will revolutionize farming in India.
The partnership and launch of the expo coincided with U.S. President Barack Obama’s official trip to India.
