The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare hosted the 9th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry on 9 September 2026 in New Delhi. The gathering brought together agricultural ministers from India and ten ASEAN nations to discuss food security, sustainable farming and strengthened regional cooperation. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Philippines Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel co-chaired the event.
Key outcomes and focus areas
The meeting endorsed two strategic frameworks: ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future and the ASEAN Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sectoral Plan 2026–2030. Ministers agreed to adopt and implement the ASEAN–India Medium-Term Plan of Action for Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry 2026–2030.
The cooperation plan will prioritise:
- Climate-resilient farming and low-emission rice production
- Water productivity and soil health
- Artificial intelligence in agriculture
- Food safety and post-harvest management
- Circular bioeconomy and agroforestry
- Farmer exchanges and capacity building
- Joint research and technology cooperation
Ministers stressed the need for stronger connections between research institutions, technology developers, agricultural extension services, private businesses and farming communities to speed up adoption of new agricultural methods. They also highlighted the importance of improving market access, value addition and logistics in agriculture and forestry.
A symbolic ‘India–ASEAN Friendship Spike for Agriculture and Forestry’ was unveiled to mark the partnership. Visiting delegations toured the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute at Pusa, viewing facilities for protected cultivation, pearl millet and rice research, phenomics studies and plant genetic resource conservation.
The 10th ASEAN–India Agriculture Working Group Meeting took place on 8 September 2026, with 45 delegates from 11 ASEAN member states. An exhibition displayed ICAR technologies including Kisan Sarathi, a digital advisory platform serving 3.03 crore registered farmers across more than 3.5 lakh villages in 13 Indian languages. Other showcased innovations included indigenous animal disease vaccines, fisheries models and horticultural technologies.
What this means for you
Indian farmers may gain access to new agricultural technologies, research findings and training programmes developed through this regional partnership. If you use digital farming tools or sell crops in regional markets, improved cooperation on standards and logistics could affect your business practices and opportunities. The next ministerial meeting will occur in 2028, indicating this is a long-term collaboration framework.