India Showcases Farm Growth, Global Cooperation at BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meet
The two-day BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Conference began in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, with India highlighting its agricultural achievements, commitment to sustainable farming, and vision for stronger global cooperation.
India Showcases Farm Growth, Global Cooperation at BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meet
CNB WORLD TIMES
Indore, 12th June: The two-day BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Conference began in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, with India highlighting its agricultural achievements, commitment to sustainable farming, and vision for stronger global cooperation. The event forms part of India's ongoing BRICS Chairship in 2026 and serves as an important platform for discussions on food security, farmer welfare, and agricultural innovation.
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed delegates from BRICS nations and emphasized India's traditional values of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family) and "Atithi Devo Bhava" (the guest is God). He said India believes in peace, cooperation, and collective development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The conference comes ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, which India will host in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026. The summit will be chaired by Prime Minister Modi under the theme, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." The theme reflects India's focus on a people-centric development model and the priorities of the Global South.
India assumed the BRICS Chairship from Brazil on January 1, 2026. This is the fourth time India has chaired the grouping, having previously hosted BRICS summits in 2012, 2016, and 2021. Earlier this year, India also hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting at Bharat Mandapam, where discussions focused on regional security, economic cooperation, and strengthening multilateral partnerships.
The 2026 BRICS process is particularly significant as it brings together the expanded BRICS Plus grouping. Along with founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the bloc now includes new members such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said the conference provides an important opportunity to discuss challenges faced by small and marginal farmers worldwide. He pointed to climate change, pressure on natural resources, rising production costs, and uncertainties in agricultural markets as major concerns affecting farmers across countries.
He stressed that empowering small farmers is critical for ensuring global food security. According to him, stronger and technologically equipped farmers can build a more resilient global food system.
Highlighting India's agricultural progress, the minister said the agriculture sector has recorded an average annual growth rate of nearly 4.5 percent over the past decade. India's foodgrain production has reached around 376 million tonnes, while wheat production is close to 118 million tonnes. Horticulture production has crossed 378 million tonnes and fish production has exceeded 19 million tonnes, reflecting growth across agriculture and allied sectors.
Chouhan said India is implementing the world's largest food security programme, ensuring food support to millions of people. He credited the achievements to the hard work of farmers and the government's farmer-centric policies.
The minister noted that nearly 43 percent of India's workforce depends on agriculture and allied sectors for livelihood. He added that around 87 percent of Indian farmers are small and marginal farmers, making their welfare a key priority for inclusive rural development.
He highlighted flagship schemes such as PM-Kisan, Kisan Credit Card, crop insurance programmes, improved seed distribution, irrigation expansion, agricultural mechanization, and digital services that have strengthened the farming sector.
On sustainable agriculture, Chouhan emphasized natural farming, balanced use of fertilizers, and soil health management. He said initiatives such as the Khet Bachao Abhiyan are helping farmers adopt scientific and environmentally friendly cultivation practices.
The minister also highlighted the role of women in agriculture through Self-Help Groups and initiatives like Drone Didi, which are enabling women to access modern technologies and take leadership roles in rural development. He further noted the growing contribution of young entrepreneurs, agri-startups, and digital innovations in transforming agriculture into a modern and technology-driven sector.
India's BRICS Chairship agenda is built around four major pillars—Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability. These priorities focus on addressing supply chain disruptions, health emergencies, climate risks, digital transformation, sustainable development, reform of global governance institutions, and strengthening cooperation among BRICS nations.
The Chairship also emphasizes people-to-people exchanges and youth engagement, including a national campaign encouraging young Indians to contribute one million hours of volunteer service.
Concluding his address, Chouhan called upon BRICS countries to deepen cooperation in agriculture, technology sharing, and policy coordination. He expressed confidence that stronger partnerships among BRICS nations would help empower farmers, improve food security, and promote sustainable agricultural development across the world.
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