India and ASEAN Reaffirm Strategic Agriculture Partnership at 9th Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi
The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare announced that the 9th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AIMMAF) was successfully convened in New Delhi. The high-level conference was co-chaired by India’s Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, alongside Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines. Representatives from ten ASEAN member nations gathered to deliberate on emerging global challenges, including extreme weather events, climate variability, trade disruptions, and input market volatility.
During the session, ministers formally endorsed strategic plans aimed at accelerating practical, farmer-centric collaboration. Priorities outlined for the 2026–2030 period focus on climate-resilient agriculture, low-emission rice cultivation, water productivity, soil health management, and AI-enabled digital farming tools. The delegation emphasized the necessity of bridging research institutions, technology innovators, and private enterprises directly with local farming communities to ensure rapid adoption of scalable agricultural breakthroughs.
On the sidelines of the summit, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan conducted bilateral discussions with agricultural leaders from Malaysia, Timor-Leste, and Myanmar. The talks centered on germplasm exchange, market connectivity, post-harvest logistics, and human resource development. The official press release highlights that these combined initiatives will fortify the ASEAN–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, ensuring resilient food supply chains and enhanced rural prosperity across the region.
