India, Nepal Sign Fresh Agriculture MoU; Shivraj Singh Chouhan Holds Key BIMSTEC Meetings

Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan called on Nepal Prime Minister Shri K.P. Sharma Oli and held high-level bilateral meetings with agriculture ministers of Nepal and Bhutan during the 3rd BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held in Kathmandu.

Leading the Indian delegation, Shri Chouhan was accompanied by Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shri Naveen Srivastava and senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The focus of the visit was to strengthen regional cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors.

India-Nepal Relations Strengthened with New MoU

A key highlight of the visit was the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Nepal to enhance cooperation in agriculture. The MoU replaces the previous agreement signed in 1991 and aims to deepen collaboration in areas such as crop productivity, post-harvest management, agricultural research, market access, climate-resilient farming, and sustainable agriculture.

During his bilateral meeting with Nepal’s Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Shri Ramnath Adhikari, the two leaders reviewed ongoing initiatives and discussed the establishment of a Joint Agriculture Working Group (JAWG). The ministers also reviewed progress on the proposed Agro-Industrial Park in Chitwan and ongoing agricultural projects under India’s High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) programme.

India-Bhutan Agricultural Ties Discussed

Shri Chouhan also held bilateral talks with Mr. Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho, Bhutan’s Minister for Agriculture and Livestock. The leaders explored ways to enhance cooperation in irrigation, livestock, and mega farm development. Bhutan requested increased Indian support, and both sides agreed to finalize a new MoU on technical cooperation shortly.

Commitment to BIMSTEC Cooperation

In a separate meeting with BIMSTEC Secretary General Shri Indramani Pandey, Shri Chouhan highlighted shared challenges like climate change, food security, and nutrition across BIMSTEC nations. He emphasized regional collaboration and India’s commitment to BIMSTEC’s agriculture agenda under the 2023–2027 Plan of Action.

Shri Chouhan also reiterated India’s support for the proposed BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Agriculture in New Delhi and ongoing initiatives like the BIMSTEC Agricultural Scholarship Program and capacity-building workshops in seed development, pest management, nanotechnology, and remote sensing.

Call on Nepal PM K.P. Sharma Oli

In his meeting with Nepal Prime Minister Shri K.P. Sharma Oli, Shri Chouhan reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening agricultural collaboration, including the development of an agro-industrial park and a fertilizer plant in Nepal. Both sides welcomed the signing of the new MoU and expressed optimism for a more productive partnership in agriculture and allied sectors.