Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday reaffirmed India’s commitment to deepening agricultural cooperation with BIMSTEC nations, while addressing the 3rd BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministerial Meeting (BAMM) in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Terming BIMSTEC a “natural choice” for India’s key foreign policy priorities, Chouhan said the grouping has immense potential to connect South and Southeast Asia. He emphasised the shared cultural heritage and common challenges that make BIMSTEC countries ideal partners in regional development.
Outlining India’s agricultural reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Chouhan highlighted initiatives such as direct benefit transfers to farmers, institutional credit support, the Soil Health Card scheme, the National Food Security Mission, crop insurance, and the Namo Drone Didi scheme aimed at empowering women farmers with drone technology. He also noted India’s growing focus on digital agriculture, organic and natural farming, and environmental sustainability.
Reiterating India’s proactive role, the minister pointed to India’s lead in implementing the BIMSTEC Agriculture Cooperation Plan (2023–2027), which includes organising training and workshops in seed development, pest management, and animal health. He also drew attention to India’s fully-funded BIMSTEC scholarships for M.Sc. and Ph.D. students, calling it a step towards regional capacity building.
Minister Chouhan proposed setting up a ‘BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Agriculture Cooperation’ in India. The centre, he said, would serve as a regional hub to accelerate innovation and knowledge exchange in precision farming, climate resilience, gender equality, and artificial intelligence. It would also promote the use of digital tools and drones to boost food and nutrition security in the region.
He invited BIMSTEC countries to participate in the upcoming World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit 2025, scheduled to be held in Mumbai from May 1 to 4. The event, announced by Prime Minister Modi, will bring together global leaders from the entertainment and media industries to foster collaboration and innovation.
Thanking the BIMSTEC leadership for their guidance during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, Chouhan praised the progress made in implementing the Action Plan for Strengthening Agricultural Cooperation. He welcomed the collective push for sustainable fisheries and livestock development to enhance regional food security and livelihoods.
Calling agriculture and food security key pillars of BIMSTEC cooperation, Chouhan said the forum has evolved into a vital platform for driving regional growth, economic progress, and connectivity across the Bay of Bengal region.
The one-day meeting witnessed participation from agriculture ministers and senior officials from all seven BIMSTEC member countries, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
