The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Government of India, and the Agriculture Department of the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Blue Economy, Republic of Seychelles, signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the official visit of the Prime Minister to Seychelles to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agricultural research and education. The MoU establishes a framework for enhancing collaboration in agricultural research, education, capacity building, and technology transfer between the two countries.
To operationalize the agreement, both sides signed a five-year Work Plan covering the period 2026–2031. The Work Plan focuses on key areas including climate-smart agriculture, horticulture, post-harvest management, livestock development, and sustainable food and nutritional security. The collaboration specifically provides for promoting joint research programmes, exchange of scientists, researchers and students, and sharing of advanced agricultural technologies and best practices.
The collaboration aims to strengthen institutional linkages, improve agricultural productivity, build technical capacity, and support sustainable agricultural development while addressing emerging challenges such as climate change and food security. ICAR has signed more than 100 Memoranda of Understanding with partner institutions across the world, and this agreement with Seychelles reinforces India's engagement with the Global South and its commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture, innovation and global food and nutritional security through international cooperation.