India Leads BIMSTEC Agricultural Cooperation 2025
Kathmandu, April 9: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, represented India at the 3rd BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministerial Meeting (BAMM) held today in Kathmandu, Nepal. The one-day meeting brought together agriculture ministers and senior officials from the BIMSTEC nations—India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka—to discuss deepening regional collaboration in the agriculture sector.
The event marked a major step forward in BIMSTEC agricultural cooperation 2025, building on the momentum from the two previous meetings held in Myanmar (2019) and India (2022). Agriculture and food security are key pillars of BIMSTEC’s broader mission to promote regional development and economic integration across the Bay of Bengal region.
In his keynote address, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized BIMSTEC’s strategic importance in aligning with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ foreign policy initiatives. He highlighted the cultural, historical, and economic linkages between the member countries, stressing the need for enhanced agricultural cooperation to address shared challenges like food insecurity, climate change, and rural livelihood improvement.
“BIMSTEC has the potential to connect South and Southeast Asia. We are natural partners with a shared vision,” said Chouhan.
The Indian Minister outlined several flagship initiatives launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to transform India’s agricultural landscape. These include Direct Benefit Transfer to farmers, improved institutional credit access, Soil Health Cards, National Food Security Mission, and the Namo Drone Didi scheme, which aims to provide women with agricultural drones to promote tech-led farming.
Chouhan also spoke about India’s emphasis on digital agriculture, natural and organic farming, and sustainable practices that balance productivity with environmental protection.
India Proposes BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Agriculture
A key highlight of the meeting was India’s proposal to establish a BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Agriculture Cooperation. The proposed centre will serve as a platform for regional knowledge-sharing and innovation, focusing on precision agriculture, climate resilience, artificial intelligence, gender equality, and sustainable farming practices.
The centre will also support the operationalization of various commitments under the BIMSTEC Agriculture Cooperation Plan (2023–2027). It will promote the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as drones and digital tools to enhance food and nutrition security across the region.
Chouhan expressed pride in India’s proactive role in organizing training sessions and workshops under the cooperation framework in areas such as seed development, animal health, and pest management. He also reiterated India’s commitment to capacity building through fully funded BIMSTEC scholarships for postgraduate and doctoral studies in agricultural sciences.
Call for Participation in Global Events
In a bid to foster broader engagement beyond agriculture, Shri Chouhan invited BIMSTEC member states to take part in the upcoming World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit – 2025, scheduled to be held in Mumbai from May 1–4, 2025. The event, announced by Prime Minister Modi, aims to connect global creative industries and explore innovations at the intersection of technology and storytelling.
A Unified Commitment to Food Security and Climate Action
Chouhan extended gratitude to the BIMSTEC leadership for their support in implementing the Plan of Action for Strengthening Agricultural Cooperation (2023–2027). He highlighted the importance of joint efforts to improve fisheries and livestock development, which are crucial for rural livelihoods and regional food security.
In his concluding remarks, the Minister reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to BIMSTEC agricultural cooperation 2025, stating that the platform is central to ensuring climate adaptation, sustainable farming, and resilient food systems in the region.
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