India and Russia Reaffirm Partnership to Boost Agricultural Cooperation
India and Russia reiterated their commitment to expanding agricultural cooperation and strengthening bilateral trade on Friday during a high-level meeting in New Delhi between Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev.
At the meeting held at Krishi Bhawan, both leaders engaged in wide-ranging discussions focused on deepening collaboration in the agricultural sector. Key priorities included boosting India’s agricultural exports to Russia, improving market access, and exploring new opportunities for joint research, technical partnerships, and innovation in farming practices.
Welcoming the Russian delegation, Chouhan highlighted the long-standing and trusted Indo-Russian relationship, describing agriculture as central to India’s development goals. He stated that India’s priorities include ensuring food security, increasing farmers’ incomes, and providing safe and nutritious food to its citizens. Emphasising the importance of global cooperation, Chouhan underscored India’s commitment to the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family).
Deputy Prime Minister Patrushev expressed Russia’s willingness to expand agricultural trade, noting that agriculture represented a sector with “significant potential” for future cooperation. He proposed formalising the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding and reaffirmed Russia’s interest in building on the countries’ robust history of collaboration across multiple industries.
Discussions also covered cooperation in seed traceability systems, joint research and development projects, and technical exchanges aimed at driving innovation in agriculture. Both sides agreed to strengthen collaboration in education, including scholarships and training programs, to build expertise among students and professionals in agriculture-related fields.
The Russian delegation included Deputy Minister of Agriculture Maksim Markovich, Ambassador Denis Alipov, and Sergey Dankvert, Head of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance. The Indian side was represented by Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi and senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, DARE, and other departments.
Reaffirming their shared vision, India and Russia pledged to collaborate on sustainable agricultural growth, aiming to enhance global food security and create new opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses in both countries.
Also Read: Russia’s Push to Expand Wheat Exports to China Stalls Over Winter Wheat Ban.
