Shivraj Singh Chouhan Pushes for Inclusive Trade, Sustainable Innovation, and Global Food Security at Landmark Summit
BRAZILIA / Brazil, 21 April 2025: At the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting, India reaffirmed its global leadership in sustainable agriculture, emphasizing inclusive growth, farmer welfare, and technological innovation.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan positioned small and marginal farmers at the heart of India’s strategy to drive global food security, calling for “collective empowerment” of over 510 million smallholder farmers worldwide.
“Agriculture for India is not just an economic activity—it is a source of food, dignity, and livelihood for millions,” Shri Chouhan declared, underlining the need for equitable policy frameworks that shield small farmers from climate change, price volatility, and diminishing resources. He highlighted India’s leadership in cluster-based farming, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and natural farming, positioning these models as blueprints for global replication.
India advocated for fair global agricultural trade, minimum support prices (MSP), and robust public food stockholding systems, referencing India’s COVID-19 response—wherein 800 million citizens received free rations—as a powerful example of food sovereignty and public distribution.
The Minister spotlighted India’s leap in agri-technology adoption, showcasing initiatives like the Digital Agriculture Mission, AgriStack, Drone Didi, and Climate-Resilient Villages, which have improved transparency, yield, and rural incomes. He also emphasized women’s empowerment, highlighting the success of Lakhpati Didi, a rural entrepreneurship program creating female agri-leaders.
Addressing climate change, Chouhan urged deeper collaboration through India’s flagship programs—such as the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), and Waste to Wealth. The BRICS Ministers jointly launched the “BRICS Land Restoration Partnership”, aimed at reversing land degradation and enhancing soil health, a move strongly endorsed by India for its benefits to tribal and smallholder communities.
In the Joint Declaration, BRICS nations committed to building a fair, innovative, and climate-adaptive global agri-food system, prioritizing:
- Digital agriculture certification
- Sustainable fisheries and livestock development
- Financial and trade mechanisms for the Global South
- Soil and land restoration
- Women and youth empowerment in agriculture
Chouhan also invited BRICS partners to World Food India 2025 and the World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit 2025, branding them as catalysts for cross-border agri-innovation and partnerships.
Concluding with India’s Vedic benediction—“May all be happy, may all be healthy, may there be welfare and well-being for all”—Chouhan framed India’s agricultural diplomacy as a moral and strategic mission. The address not only underscored India’s domestic priorities but also cemented its leadership role in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture across the Global South.
