By Gagandeep Ahuja
PATIALA:  In a bid to encourage Punjab’s farmers and makers of agriculture equipment & machinery to invest in African continent, Africa offered Risk Insurance Coverage to completely eliminate any possibility of risk in their investment, according to Dean of Diplomatic Crops of Africa, Jonathan Wutawunashe.

Addressing the ASSOCHAM organised Conference on Opportunities for Agriculture in Africa : Focus Punjab here Saturday, Dean of Diplomatic Crops who is also Ambassador of Zimbabwe further said that the proposed Risk Insurance would be covered by the leading African banks including multilateral agency like World Bank.

The entire African continent has already struck agreement with World bank for this purpose and also issued directives to African banks, further said Wutawunahse.

In his address, the Minister of State for External Affairs, Preneet Kaur said that for the Punjab’s farmers, Africa can become a major export market in agriculture commodities and therefore, invited Punjab’s farmers and investors to make “PROJECTS” for the African continents by identifying the potential areas with the help of MEA and African Embassies.

The Ministry will also actively facilitate the interested Punjab’s farmers in the African continent and at the same time, investors of equipment and machineries will be protected from bilateral investment and protection agreement, said  Preneet Kaur.

Since Punjab’s land is loosing its fertility very fast due to excessive usage of pesticides, chemicals etc., Punjab’s farmers should tap the African countries.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in it’s initiatives for the African nation will focus on capacity building in varied fields of agriculture through training, field visits of Indian agriculture professionals, consultancy and sharing of knowledge, further said the Minister.

Apart from that, agriculture extension services will be for Punjab’s farmers and Punjab-African alliance in Agriculture will be a win-win  situation for both of them, said dean of Diplomatic Crops of Africa.

Among other Ambassadors who were present on the occasion comprise Gennet Zewide, Ambassador of Ethiopia,  Jose Jose Maria Morais, High Commissioner of Mozambique, John W.H. Kijazi, High Commissioner of Tanzania, Nimisha J Madhvani, High Commissioner Uganda, S K Walubita, High Commissioner of Zambia.

Gurjit Singh, Joint Secretary MEA and  Arun K Agarwal Chairman ASSOCHAM Africa Committee also address the Conference.