India-Africa farm partnership should move beyond seed trade: Telangana Governor
Hyderabad, Sept 17 (TNT): India and African countries should deepen cooperation in agriculture by sharing expertise in seed technology, research and climate-resilient farming, Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said on Thursday, calling for a partnership that goes beyond seed exports.
Addressing the valedictory session of the 2nd India-Africa Seed Summit-2026 here, Shukla said quality seeds were the foundation for food security, higher farm incomes, rural development and self-reliance.
He said India should share its capabilities in seed research, breeding, hybrid technology, production, processing and quality control with African countries.
The Governor called for developing local seed production, testing and processing capacities in African nations to create long-term opportunities for farmers, youth and entrepreneurs.
He said Telangana’s strengths in seed research, production, testing and certification could be integrated with India-Africa agricultural cooperation.
The expertise of ICRISAT at Patancheru, along with Hyderabad’s research and agricultural technology ecosystem and skilled manpower, could further strengthen the partnership, he added.
“The ultimate objective must be the welfare of farmers,” Shukla said, stressing that cooperation should encompass soil health, irrigation, nutrition, credit, insurance, storage and markets besides quality seeds.
He called for greater research and technology exchange to promote climate-resilient agriculture and empower small farmers.
The Governor expressed hope that the Hyderabad summit would provide a platform for a long-term India-Africa partnership based on knowledge, technology, investment, local production and farmers’ prosperity.
ICRISAT Director General Dr Himanshu Pathak, Telangana Agriculture Production Commissioner and Secretary Surendra Mohan, AFSTA Secretary-General Dr Yacouba Diallo, ICFA Executive Director and CEO Sanjay Sethi, besides representatives of African countries, government officials, scientists, seed industry representatives and entrepreneurs, attended the programme.
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