Agricultural development is a prime driver of growth in countries such as Guinea Bissau, Senegal and Angola. And its in focus now through an association between agronomists, farmers and corporate houses. Agricole Asia, a global agricultural business and technology firm, has partnered with Sumant Kumar, known to the world as the record holder for highest production of rice using System of Rice Intensification (SRI). The aim is to use Sumant’s farming skills and ensure better rice production across Africa. Sumant will work exclusively with Agricole Asia to work on rice produce in various countries across Africa, using SRI.The details of the deal have been confirmed by Ashwin Srivastava, an Indian entrepreneur and a representative of the parties involved.
The purpose of the partnership is to improve the process of development in African countries by reducing import dependency. Ashwin Srivastava from Agricole Asia, the company which has pioneered this process, has stated, “We perceive that there is merit in working together in Africa on the agricultural sector in general with emphasis on the production of rice and any other import substitute commodities in Africa. The core idea behind the effort is to reduce import dependency for Africa thereby ensuring food security for the local populace. That’s why we have partnered with Sumant Kumar to replicate his success in Africa.”
Sumant Kumar first came into prominence in 2012, when he managed to grow an astonishing 22.4 tonnes of rice on one hectare of land, using SRI. His feat was replicated partially by various farmers from his village in Nalanda, Bihar, which is an underdeveloped state in India. After getting coverage from eminent agronomists like Dr. Achim Dobermann and Dr Surendra Chaussa, journalists like John Vidal and Nicola Piras, and economists like Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz, Sumant transformed from being a local hero to a global hero.
This agreement between Agricole Asia, an international firm specialized in agricultural production and global trading of high-tech agricultural equipment, and Sumant Kumar is being perceived as an important step towards agricultural growth in various under-developed and developing countries in the continent of Africa. Steps like these will act as a significant growth driver for countries from West Africa.
Sumant will work with Agricole Asia in these countries, right from pre-production preparation up to successful harvesting and bagging. He will work exclusively on projects assigned through Agricole Asia, including feasibility analysis and guideline planning. The agreement is in progress now, and it remains to be seen how well these efforts translate into more development for Africa.
About Agricole Asia
Agricole Asia is an international agricultural firm registered at Victoria, Mahe, Republic of Seychelles, with corporate headquarters at United Arab Emirates. It is into large scale farming, global trading in agricultural products and perishables, logistics of perishables, supply of technology and production equipment for agriculture business, etc.