India holds bilateral agri talks with Malaysia, Timor-Leste & Myanmar

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held separate bilateral meetings with the Agriculture Ministers of Malaysia, Timor-Leste and Myanmar in New Delhi on Wednesday, with discussions focusing on agricultural research, technology, food security, trade and institutional cooperation.
According to agency reports, the meetings were held on the sidelines of the 9th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (9th AIMMAF), organised by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi from September 8 to 9.During his meeting with Malaysian Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Mohamed Bin Sabu, Chouhan discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors. Both sides stressed knowledge-sharing and expressed interest in expanding collaboration in joint agricultural research, technology and innovation.The two Ministers also discussed establishing an institutional framework through a Memorandum of Understanding covering areas of mutual interest. Germplasm exchange, trade and market access were also discussed.
In his meeting with Timor-Leste’s Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry Marcos Da Cruz, Chouhan reiterated India’s commitment to supporting the country’s agricultural development and food security.India offered to share its agricultural best practices and support Timor-Leste in strengthening research and innovation through exchanges of scientists and experts and human resource development. Timor-Leste also proposed deputing Indian technical and scientific experts to assess challenges and provide recommendations in agriculture, forestry, livestock and aquaculture.During his meeting with Myanmar’s Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Min Naung, Chouhan highlighted the longstanding cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries, noting that India and Myanmar share around 1,600 km of border.
The two sides discussed the proposed MoU on cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors, which is at an advanced stage of finalisation. They also explored ways to expand agricultural trade, including cooperation in pulses, cotton, dairy development and agricultural education.The Myanmar side highlighted investment opportunities in the country, with both sides emphasising the potential to further strengthen economic and agricultural ties between India and Myanmar.

(Business Correspondent)