Jaipur - U.S. Ambassador to India Nancy J. Powell presided over a graduation ceremony today at the Chaudhury Charan Singh National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), marking the completion of the first training program on agricultural marketing management for 30 visiting African agriculture professionals.

The training was organized as part of the India-U.S.-Africa Triangular Training Program under the strategic partnership between the Governments of India and the United States to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen agricultural value chains, and support market institutions in Kenya, Liberia, and Malawi.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Powell said, “The successful completion of this training program is a concrete example of the growing relationship between India and Africa and the emerging peer-to-peer relationship between India and the United States in addressing global food insecurity.  Under the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue, our governments have agreed to work together to develop, test, and replicate technologies to extend food security in India that can also benefit Africa.  The India-U.S.-Africa Triangular Training program is a key step toward that goal.”

A total of 180 African agricultural professionals from Kenya, Liberia, and Malawi will be trained over the next two years at NIAM in Jaipur and at the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) in Hyderabad.

At the event, Ambassador Powell was joined by High Commissioner of Kenya to India Florence Imisa Weche, High Commissioner of the Republic of Malawi to India Dr. Perks Ligoya, and Director General of NIAM Dr. R.P. Meena.