India Strengthens Agricultural Cooperation with ASEAN Nations
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan held separate bilateral meetings with agricultural ministers from Malaysia, Timor-Leste, and Myanmar on September 9, 2026, during the 9th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (9th AIMMAF) organized by the Department of Agricultural Research (DARE) and Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) in New Delhi from September 8-9, 2026.
In the meeting with Malaysia's Minister of Agriculture and Food Security H.E. Mr. Mohamed Bin Sabu, both ministers emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices. They expressed interest in strengthening collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide an institutional framework for cooperation in joint agricultural research, technology, and innovation. The ministers noted that bilateral issues relating to germplasm exchange, trade, and market access could be addressed through mutual cooperation to strengthen the partnership between India and Malaysia in agriculture and allied sectors.
During the meeting with Timor-Leste's Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry H.E. Mr. Marcos Da Cruz, the Timorese minister expressed interest in building strong institutional mechanisms to address various agricultural challenges and ensure food security. Minister Chouhan reiterated India's commitment to share best practices and support Timor-Leste in advancing their agriculture research and innovation capabilities through exchange of scientists, experts, and human resource development. Timor-Leste specifically requested that India consider deputing a team of technical and scientific experts to assess ground-level challenges and provide technical recommendations in agriculture, forestry, livestock, and aquaculture.
In the meeting with Myanmar's Union Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation H.E. Mr. Min Naung, Minister Chouhan highlighted the strong cultural and people-to-people connections between the two countries, noting that Myanmar shares approximately 1,600 km of border with India. The ministers confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries is at an advanced stage of finalization for strengthening cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors. Both sides discussed trade potential, noting that strong partnership in mutually identified areas would enhance trade in agriculture-related goods including pulses, cotton, dairy development, and agriculture education. Myanmar also suggested favorable investment opportunities in the country to strengthen economic and agricultural ties.
All three meetings included the Indian delegation comprising Dr. M. L. Jat (Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR), Shri Gyanendra Dev Tripathi (Additional Secretary, DARE & Secretary, ICAR), Shri A. K. Sahu (Joint Secretary (IC), DoAFW), ICAR DDGs, and the International Relations Team led by Dr. Naveen P. Singh, ADG (IR), ICAR.