A 35-member African delegation participating in the International Training Programme on ‘Livelihood Promotion through Self-Employment at the Grassroots Level’, conducted by the National Institute of Labour Economics Research and Development (NILERD) under NITI Aayog, visited the UN House on 4 April 2025 for a knowledge-sharing session hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The programme is sponsored by the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
The delegation comprised officials from 10 African countries—Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia. Representatives from NILERD and FAO India technical experts also participated in the session.
The primary objective of the knowledge-sharing session was to foster exchange on grassroots agricultural innovations and livelihood promotion strategies across agrifood systems in India.
During the interactive session, Mr Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India delivered an in-depth presentation on the evolution of India’s agriculture dating back to the Indus Valley civilization, India’s transformative innovations in agriculture and allied sectors, and FAO’s long-standing collaboration with the Government of India. He highlighted that today India’s agriculture sector stands at a transformative juncture—rooted in traditional knowledge yet rapidly evolving through innovation, technology, and policy reforms. As one of the world’s largest producers of food grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and spices, India plays a crucial role in global food security and climate-smart practices.
Participants engaged actively, asking questions and expressing keen interest in India’s development journey and successful models in agriculture and rural livelihoods. The delegation acknowledged that India is increasingly embracing climate-smart practices, digital agriculture, and farmer-centric value chains to address emerging challenges such as climate change, land degradation, and market volatility. They also had the opportunity to interact with FAO’s technical experts and project managers working on the ground under various projects.
The session concluded with a strong reaffirmation of the importance of South-South Cooperation as a powerful tool for shared learning, innovation, and development. India, as a leader of the Global South, continues to demonstrate how inclusive growth and technological advancement can be harnessed to empower rural communities. With a strong focus on sustainable intensification, agri-entrepreneurship, and inclusive rural development, India holds immense potential to lead the way in building resilient agrifood systems—not just for itself, but as a model for other developing nations navigating similar transitions
FAO remains committed to facilitating such knowledge exchanges, strengthening cooperation among developing countries, and supporting countries in achieving more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems, leaving no one behind.
