NEW DELHI, 14 September 2026: India and ASEAN countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and forestry, with a focus on climate resilience, digital technologies, food security and stronger agricultural value chains.
The commitment was made at the 9th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry, co-chaired by Philippines Secretary of Agriculture Francisco P. Tiu Laurel and Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The meeting focused on practical and farmer-centred cooperation to build a more food-secure, sustainable and resilient agricultural sector across India and ASEAN.
India, ASEAN to expand digital agriculture cooperation
The ministers welcomed ‘ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future’ and the ASEAN Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sectoral Plan 2026–2030 as key frameworks for sustainable agricultural development.
They also looked forward to adopting and implementing the ASEAN–India Medium-Term Plan of Action for Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry 2026–2030.
The proposed cooperation plan will cover policy dialogue, digital innovation, technology development, joint research, capacity building and farmer exchanges.
AI, climate-resilient farming among key priorities
Climate-resilient agriculture emerged as a major area of cooperation between India and ASEAN.
The ministers identified several areas for practical collaboration, including low-emission rice cultivation, water productivity, AI-enabled digital agriculture, soil health, food safety and post-harvest management.
Other priorities include circular bioeconomy, agroforestry and the development of resilient agricultural value chains.
The meeting also stressed stronger connections between research institutions, technology developers, agricultural extension agencies, private companies and farmers to accelerate the adoption of new technologies.
Focus on farmers, markets and agricultural logistics
India and ASEAN also agreed on the need to strengthen market connectivity, value addition and logistics for agricultural and forestry products.
The cooperation comes amid growing challenges for farmers and food systems from climate change, extreme weather events, geopolitical and economic uncertainties, volatile input prices, trade disruptions and transboundary pests and diseases.
Greater regional cooperation could help countries improve agricultural supply chains and strengthen their ability to respond to disruptions affecting food production and trade.
India-ASEAN fFriendship spike for agriculture unveiled
A key highlight of the ministerial meeting was the unveiling of the ‘India-ASEAN Friendship Spike for Agriculture and Forestry’.
The initiative symbolises the long-term partnership between India and ASEAN and their shared commitment to cooperation in agriculture and forestry.
The ministers also agreed that the 10th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry will be held in 2028.
What the India-ASEAN agriculture cooperation means for farmers
The expanded cooperation could create opportunities for farmers through greater access to agricultural technologies, climate-resilient farming practices, digital advisory systems, improved post-harvest management and stronger regional agricultural markets.
The emphasis on AI, water productivity, soil health and low-emission agriculture also reflects a broader shift towards technology-driven and climate-resilient farming across Asia.