Quick Summary
- A delegation from the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), led by secretary general Yacouba Diallo, visited the Telangana International Seed Testing Authority in Hyderabad.
- The laboratory, located in Rajendranagar, is recognized by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA).
- The visit coincided with the three-day India-Africa Seed Summit held from September 11.
- Telangana’s seed certification authority demonstrated its testing machinery and equipment to the visiting members.
- Mr. Diallo praised Telangana’s ISTA-recognized laboratory for supporting seed exports and emphasized its importance for africa as well.
- Telangana is credited as India’s first state to implement online seed certification and traceability systems, boosting confidence in standard-compliant seed exports.
- The State currently supplies 2.2 lakh tonnes of quality seeds annually across 10 Indian states apart from internal use in Telangana.
- With a conducive environment for production,500 companies operate in Telangana’s seed industry involving around 3.5 lakh farmers annually producing approximately 9 lakh tonnes of seeds and employing about 3 lakh people directly.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The visit by an African delegation to Telangana’s ISTA-recognized testing lab underscores India’s growing global reputation in agricultural innovation and quality assurance systems essential for international trade. Telangana has emerged as a hub of India’s burgeoning agribusiness sector with pioneering efforts like online certification and traceability tools that not only support domestic demand but also position it as a key exporter globally.
with export-oriented infrastructure such as this lab enabling rigorous standards compliance, India enhances its potential to play a pivotal role on global platforms like the Africa-focused summit that seeks shared advancements between nations’ farming sectors here perhaps harmonized agri-trade This growth expands win-win strategies furthering economic collaboration measurable trail connectors betwn output toward critical blueprint semi-mature markets