Ethiopia invites Indian investments in commercial farming

Ethiopia has invited Indian investments in the country's farm sector, mainly in the development of commercial farming, in view of high skill and experience of Indian farmers in commercial crops.

Indian farmers can make use of vast farm lands set aside by the African country for commercial farming of pulses and edible oil crops for export to India, Ethiopia's minister of agriculture Tafera Derbew who called on India's minister of state for consumer affairs, food and public distribution K V Thomas in New Delhi today said.

The visiting Ethiopian minister said his country would like to take advantage of Indian experience not only in the area of mechanised farming but also in food security system. He discussed other issues of bilateral cooperation with the Indian minister.

Welcoming the offer, Thomas requested the Ethiopian minister to set up a single window system for various clearances to Indian entrepreneurs for taking up commercial farming in Ethiopia.

India, he said, can provide technical expertise in the area of watershed development and standardisation of various food products. The Bureau of Indian Standards and ICAR are already providing training to experts from Ethiopia. Such cooperation can be extended to other areas of farming as well, the minister said.

India is the largest foreign investor in Ethiopia with approved investment of $4.4 billion, out of which 40 per cent investment is in the field of commercial agriculture. Ethiopia will also hold Indian Africa Forum Summit in May 2011 to strengthen cooperation with India.