The 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing provides key insights into Africa’s evolving strategic thinking and presents opportunities for India to strengthen its engagement with Africa.

China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Overview

• The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is an official platform for cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and African states.
  • This current meeting comes at a time when African nations face multiple issues such as high inflation, currency depreciation, a heavy debt burden, unconstitutional military takeovers, and geopolitical challenges such as the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war, and attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial shipping in the Mediterranean Sea. Africa must set an agenda regarding what it wants out of this forum.

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African Priorities at China-Africa Cooperation 2024

• Economic Goals
  • On the economic front, progress on Beijing’s ambitious goal to import $300 billion worth of goods from African countries between 2022-2024 has been modest.
  • According to data from China’s General Administration of Customs, between January and July 2024, China-Africa trade increased to $167 billion, with Chinese exports amounting to $97 billion and African exports to $69 billion. 
  • This indicates a trade deficit for Africa and a trade surplus for China. About two-thirds of this trade is dominated by raw materials, similar to the colonial period when Britishers imported raw materials from India.
• Agricultural Development
  • Africa needs to make its agriculture sustainable and robust. The challenge includes processing agricultural commodities and basic processing tasks such as roasting raw cashew nuts. 
  • Countries like China and India, which have achieved self-sufficiency through methods such as high-yield seeds and advanced fertilisers, could assist Africa.
  • They have the experience and tools to support African agriculture in becoming more climate-resilient, including developing satellite systems for improved weather forecasting.
• Green Energy and Industrial Development:
  • Green energy and industrial development are crucial. African countries are encouraging international partners to establish more refining and processing hubs. 
  • For instance, in Zimbabwe, Chinese companies are required to conduct basic lithium refining to move up the value chain and produce battery-grade lithium. 
  • However, chronic electricity shortages, lack of power generation, and significant environmental, social, and governance (ESG) costs impede international companies’ ability to refine raw minerals in Africa.
• Debt Sustainability:
  • China’s role in African debt sustainability is complex. Some opinions suggest that China is not the main creditor in Africa’s debt. 
  • According to the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, Chinese loans to African governments and regional institutions amounted to around $170 billion between 2000 and 2022.
  • Chinese lenders account for 12% of Africa’s public and private debt. The narrative of Chinese ‘debt trap diplomacy’ is debated, and some Chinese lending patterns require closer examination. 
  • Many loans are not disclosed in sovereign debt records, complicating the estimation of debt levels. Despite concerns about opacity, transparency, and non-disclosure clauses, China is unlikely to entertain debt forgiveness or cancellation, although it may write off small, interest-free loans.
• Strategic Engagement:
  • Previous instances of ad hoc and poorly structured engagements from the African side at FOCAC meetings pushed the continent into a reactive stance rather than driving the agenda. 
  • Therefore, African governments are now aiming to develop a coherent strategy toward China and harmonise African positions before the FOCAC summit.
  • African countries will continue to de-emphasize aid, focus on trade facilitation, and aggressively pursue product value addition, such as exporting roasted cashew nuts instead of raw cashew nuts.

Current Challenges for Africa

• African nations are grappling with high inflation, currency depreciation, a heavy debt burden, unconstitutional military takeovers, and geopolitical challenges such as the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war, and attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial shipping in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Strategic Gaps: Africa’s lack of a clear agenda and expertise in dealing with Chinese strategies could lead to a reactive stance, with China often driving the agenda.

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Lessons for India

• Strengthening Partnerships
  • Continuity in Relations: India should emphasise continuity in its relations with Africa. The last India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) was held in 2015. While dialogues such as the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave and India-Africa Defence Ministers meetings have been held regularly, hosting IAFS-IV would reinforce ties and maintain momentum.
  • Track 1.5 Dialogue: Engaging in Track 1.5 Dialogue involving government ministers, non-government officials, NGO representatives, and academicians could enhance consultation on mutual interests. This should be conducted after consultation with Africa’s eight recognized regional economic communities (RECs).
  • Host and Regional Office: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, being the seat of the African Union Commission, should host IAFS-IV. Additionally, establishing a regional African Union office in New Delhi could strengthen regular consultations.
• Enhancing Economic Integration
  • Support for Industrialisation: India can assist Africa by supporting its industrialization and integrating African economies into global value chains, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.
  • Investment Areas: Key areas for Indian investment include farm mechanisation, food processing, and cold storage infrastructure.
• Encouraging Private Sector Involvement
  • Innovative Financing Solutions: India should promote greater private sector involvement through innovative financing solutions such as public-private partnerships and blended finance.
  • Financial Trust: The EXIM Bank’s Trade Assistance Programme and rupee-based lines of credit, which are popular in Africa, can expand financial trust and reduce reliance on dollar-based transactions.
  • Feasibility Studies: Conducting feasibility studies and detailed project reports is essential to create bankable projects, addressing issues where African countries invest in non-viable projects.
• Technology Use
  • Digital Connectivity: India’s digital stack, including biometrics, mobile connectivity, and Jan Dhan technology, could help establish digital and physical connectivity with Africa.
  • Unified Payment Interface (UPI): The UPI and RuPay services, already established in Mauritius, could be expanded to Kenya, Namibia, Ghana, and Mozambique, which have shown interest in utilising these platforms.
  • Currency-Neutral Transactions: Strengthening Indian banking and reducing forex risk through rupee-based lines of credit could be beneficial, as African nations lose billions annually due to exchange rate fluctuations.

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Conclusion

By analysing African leaders’ interactions with China under the FOCAC framework, India can gain valuable insights to enhance its strategic engagement with Africa. Emphasising trade, industrialization, and technology will help India position itself as a key partner in Africa’s growth and development.

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Recently, the Centre and the government of Punjab devised a plan to incentivize farmers with Rs 17,500 per hectare, covering up to five hectares per beneficiary, to shift from paddy cultivation to less water-intensive crops. The aim is to conserve resources and promote sustainable agriculture by encouraging crops like pulses and edible oils.

Current Initiatives

• Punjab Scheme: Farmers are offered Rs 17,500 per hectare to switch to less water-consuming crops. The scheme is funded in a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and the Punjab government and covers up to five hectares per beneficiary.
• Haryana Scheme: A similar scheme exists, but the incentives provided haven’t bridged the profitability gap between paddy and alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, and millets. 
• However, the results have not been promising, as growing paddy is more beneficial due to the higher subsidies provided, such as free water, electricity, and procurement assurance. For example, recent research at ICRIER shows that Punjab farmers received Rs 38,973/ha in 2023-24 as subsidies for power, canal water, and fertiliser consumption.

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The Challenges

• Profitability Gap: Paddy farmers in Punjab received Rs 38,973/ha in subsidies (power, canal water, fertilisers) in 2023-24, making paddy far more profitable than alternative crops.
• No Market Guarantee: There is no guaranteed market for alternative crops, which discourages farmers from switching.

Benefits of Diversification

• Environmental Impact: Diversification could help mitigate groundwater depletion, as paddy requires a minimum of 20-25 irrigations compared to less than four irrigations for pulses, oilseeds, and millets. 
  • Over 87% of Punjab’s blocks are over-exploited or critical in terms of water levels, according to a 2023 study by the Central Ground Water Board. Shifting to less water-intensive crops will contribute to long-term sustainability.
• Reduced Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions: Paddy cultivation produces 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per hectare, contributing to climate change. 
  • Rice stubble burning, a major contributor to pollution, especially in winter, could also be reduced. 
  • Successful implementation of this scheme would have a positive impact on agricultural sustainability in both the states and the country at large.
• Prevention of Soil Degradation: Shifting away from paddy will also help prevent soil degradation.

Recommendations

• Subsidy Re-alignment: To make diversification feasible, the incentive should be at least Rs 35,000/ha, double the current amount. This would not add any additional fiscal burden but would redirect existing subsidies from paddy to other crops. 
  • For example, the subsidy currently provided for paddy cultivation could be saved and redirected to support other crops through smart planning.
• Long-term Implementation: The incentive program should run for at least five years to ensure stable savings in the subsidy bill and allow farmers to transition without significant profit loss.
• Market Assurance: Farmers benefit from assured paddy procurement by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). To encourage diversification, similar procurement guarantees for pulses and oilseeds should be provided through agencies like NAFED at Minimum Support Prices (MSP), otherwise, farmers may be reluctant to grow these crops due to fears of not being able to sell them at MSP.
  • Purchasing alternative crops at MSP to provide a reliable market for farmers who choose diversification will not add extra costs for the government. 
  • For example, the FCI bought 92.5% of the rice produced in Punjab at MSP during 2023-24. Redirecting this support towards other crops could free up funds set aside for paddy purchases. 
  • Transitioning one million hectares from paddy cultivation could free up approximately Rs 13,150 crore in paddy procurement costs.
• Stabilisation Fund: The savings from reduced paddy procurement could be used to create a stabilisation fund, ensuring that agencies like NAFED, CCI, or FCI purchase pulses, oilseeds, cotton, millets, and even kharif maize at MSPs. This would help mitigate market risks for non-paddy crops and more farmers will be encouraged to shift to other crops.

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Conclusion

A well-coordinated effort between the Centre and state governments, like Punjab and Haryana, supported by restructured subsidies and market assurance, can effectively shift farmers away from water-guzzling paddy to more sustainable alternatives. The long-term benefits include environmental conservation, financial savings, and enhanced agricultural sustainability.

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The Aparajita Bill comes in response to a tragic incident—the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata—which spurred public outcry and a demand for justice. The bill amends multiple central acts. In the context of Indian law, when a state law conflicts with a central law, the central law generally prevails.  However, there is an exception: if a state assembly enacts a bill that conflicts with central legislation and the bill receives the President’s assent, the state law can override the central law in that particular state (Article 254 of the Indian Constitution). 

Legislative Conflicts: West Bengal’s Aparajita Bill vs. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS)

• Punishment for Rape and Murder: 
  • The Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposes a mandatory death sentence for rape resulting in the victim’s death or a persistent vegetative state. 
  • This provision conflicts with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS), which allows for the death penalty as one of several sentencing options. 
  • Under BNSS, the punishment for such cases is not strictly limited to death but can also include life imprisonment or a fixed number of years, depending on the judge’s discretion.
• Probe Deadlines: 
  • The Aparajita Bill stipulates that investigations into sexual violence cases must be concluded within 21 days of the initial report. 
  • In contrast, BNSS requires investigations to be completed within two months of filing the FIR. BNSS also sets guidelines for the trial process, including framing charges within 60 days from the first hearing and delivering judgement within 30 to 60 days after arguments conclude.
• Disclosing Victim’s Identity: 
  • The Aparajita Bill proposes a prison term of 3 to 5 years for disclosing the identity of a sexual violence victim. 
  • This contrasts with BNSS, which provides for a maximum of 2 years imprisonment and a fine for the same offence.
• Special Courts: 
  • The Aparajita Bill advocates for the establishment of special courts specifically for cases of sexual violence. 
  • However, BNSS and a centrally sponsored scheme already provide for the creation of fast-track special courts to handle sexual offence cases, with funding support from the Department of Justice.

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The Debate on the Death Penalty

The passage of new laws in response to major rape cases is not unusual; governments often face pressure to enact stricter legislation following such incidents. However, is this approach a solution? While these measures may be taken  to  emotionally satisfy the public and demonstrate a tough stance on crime, they may not necessarily be effective. 

• The Justice J.S. Verma Committee, formed after the Nirbhaya case, argued against the death penalty even in the rarest of cases. Although the death penalty is frequently proposed as a deterrent for serious crimes, evidence supporting its effectiveness in reducing or stopping sexual offences is limited. In some extreme situations, perpetrators may even kill the victims, believing that death is inevitable.

Despite these recommendations, the central government proceeded to introduce the death penalty for the rape of girls under 12 and gang rape of those under 18. However, this has not significantly improved women’s safety, and the incidence of such crimes continues.

Societal Challenges

• Sexual violence is a profound violation of human dignity, and social reforms are necessary to prevent such crimes from occurring. 
• While legislative action is essential, it must be complemented by broader social reforms that address the root causes of violence and injustice, beyond mere legal measures.

Implementation Challenge

• The true effectiveness of any law depends largely on how well it is enforced and how the police and judicial system respond to sexual offences. 
• A key challenge lies in ensuring that these laws are applied without bias and that the justice system works swiftly and effectively. 
• Furthermore, there is a pressing need to prioritise women’s safety across both public and private spheres. 

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Conclusion

The enactment of stricter laws like The Aparajita Bill reflects a legislative response to public demands for justice following heinous crimes. However, such measures alone are not long-term solutions. While harsher penalties may seem necessary, they must be balanced with efforts to address the root causes of sexual violence and improve societal attitudes. Effective law enforcement, unbiased policing, and creating safe environments in homes and workplaces are essential for genuinely protecting women and reducing sexual crimes. Addressing the fundamental issues surrounding women’s safety requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond legal measures, including social and cultural reforms. Though this may require significant effort, it is crucial for solving the core issues and ensuring lasting justice and safety for women.

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