New Delhi: The 9th ASEAN–India ministerial meeting on agriculture and forestry, held here on Wednesday, reaffirmed the shared commitment of both sides to build a more food-secure, sustainable and resilient agricultural future.
Co-chaired by The Philippines’ Secretary of Agriculture, Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, and Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the meeting placed strong emphasis on practical, farmer-centred cooperation and strengthening the ASEAN–India comprehensive strategic partnership in agriculture and forestry, according to an official statement issued after the meeting.
The ministers welcomed ‘ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future’ and the ‘ASEAN Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sectoral Plan 2026–2030’ as strategic frameworks for advancing sustainable and resilient development. They also looked forward to the adoption and implementation of the ‘ASEAN–India Medium-Term Plan of Action for Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry 2026–2030’, with priorities spanning policy dialogue, digital innovation, technology cooperation, joint research, capacity building, and farmer exchanges.
The meeting also identified climate-resilient agriculture, low-emission rice, water productivity, AI-enabled digital agriculture, soil health, food safety, post-harvest management, circular bioeconomy, agroforestry and resilient value chains as key areas for practical and scalable cooperation. The Ministers also stressed stronger linkages among research institutions, technology developers, extension agencies, the private sector and farmers to accelerate the wider adoption of agricultural innovations, the statement said.
The meeting further emphasised strengthening market connectivity, value addition and agricultural and forestry logistics, while recognising the need for greater collaboration to address emerging challenges such as climate change, extreme weather events, geopolitical and economic uncertainties, input-market volatility, trade disruptions, and transboundary pests and diseases.
A significant highlight was the unveiling of the ‘India–ASEAN Friendship Spike for Agriculture and Forestry’, symbolising the enduring partnership and shared commitment of India and ASEAN towards agricultural and forestry cooperation.
The meeting also agreed that the 10th ASEAN–India ministerial meeting on agriculture and forestry will be convened in 2028, the statement added.
(IANS)
