ASEAN and India have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening food security, climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable value chains, with future cooperation set to focus on AI, digital farming, research and farmer-centric initiatives.
The Ninth ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry was held in New Delhi on September 9, bringing together India and ASEAN members to strengthen cooperation across food, agriculture and forestry.
The meeting was co-chaired by Philippine Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, representing the Chair of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry, and Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Both sides reaffirmed agriculture and forestry cooperation as an important part of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with emphasis on food security and nutrition, farmers’ livelihoods, sustainable development, innovation, rural prosperity and resilient agricultural and forest systems.
Discussions also focused on challenges created by climate change, extreme weather, geopolitical and economic tensions, volatile energy and fertiliser markets, disruptions to trade and logistics, and plant and animal diseases.
ASEAN and India stressed the need to maintain the flow of food and essential agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, seeds and pesticides. They also called for stronger regional monitoring and early-warning mechanisms, diversified supply sources and greater support for small farmers and vulnerable communities.
The meeting reviewed progress under the ASEAN-India Medium-Term Plan of Action for Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry 2021-2025. Initiatives during the period included cooperation in climate-resilient agriculture, soil management, digitalisation, science and technology, and exchanges among farmers and institutions.
Major initiatives included ASEAN-India Millets Festivals in Jakarta and New Delhi in 2023 and the ASEAN-India Fellowship for Higher Education in Agriculture and Allied Sciences launched in 2024. The fellowship provides 50 Master’s fellowships over five years for students from ASEAN member states.
Cooperation has also expanded into smart farming, soil health and precision agriculture using artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and machine learning.
The proposed ASEAN-India Medium-Term Plan of Action for 2026-2030 will further focus on food security, trade and investment, resilient value chains, digital innovation, technology cooperation, joint research, human-resource development and farmer exchanges.
Potential areas include low-emission rice cultivation, water productivity, AI-powered agriculture, soil health, bio-inputs, climate-resilient crops, food safety, post-harvest management, reducing food waste and alternatives to crop-residue burning.
Both sides also agreed to strengthen market access, value-added processing, preservation technologies and agricultural logistics to improve the movement and value of farm and forestry products.
The Tenth ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry is scheduled to be held in 2028.
