In a significant display of regional cooperation and shared commitment to agricultural development, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, visited Kathmandu to participate in the 3rd BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting. On the sidelines of the summit, he held a series of bilateral meetings with key leaders from Nepal and Bhutan, underscoring India’s deep-rooted ties and goodwill with its neighbors.
During his visit, Shri Chouhan called on Nepal’s Prime Minister Shri K.P. Sharma Oli, reaffirming the age-old friendship and mutual respect between the two nations. The discussions focused on enhancing collaboration in agriculture, a sector vital to the livelihoods of millions in both countries. With heartfelt intent, Shri Chouhan conveyed India’s readiness to support Nepal through meaningful initiatives, including the establishment of an agro-industrial park in Chitwan and a fertilizer plant—projects that are expected to significantly boost Nepal’s agricultural productivity and self-reliance.
Earlier, Shri Chouhan met with Nepal’s Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Shri Ramnath Adhikari, where a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation was signed. This agreement, which replaces the earlier one signed in 1991, promises a reinvigorated partnership. It will focus on areas such as crop productivity, post-harvest management, climate-resilient practices, market access, and agricultural research and education. Both sides also emphasized convening future Joint Agriculture Working Group meetings and advancing collaboration between India’s ICAR and Nepal’s NARC.
The Union Minister also held a warm meeting with Mr. Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho, Bhutan’s Minister for Agriculture and Livestock. The two leaders reviewed ongoing cooperation and identified future avenues, including the development of irrigation channels and mega farms. Bhutan expressed hope for continued Indian support, highlighting resource constraints that have challenged its agricultural initiatives. Shri Chouhan assured India’s commitment to assist Bhutan, building on the longstanding friendship between the two countries.
In his meeting with Shri Indramani Pandey, Secretary General of BIMSTEC, Shri Chouhan emphasized the importance of collective action in tackling shared challenges such as climate change, food security, and resource scarcity. He reiterated India’s dedication to strengthening BIMSTEC’s agricultural cooperation through scholarships, training programs, and advanced research, including plans to establish a Centre of Excellence in Agriculture in New Delhi.
These series of engagements reflect not just diplomatic formality, but a sincere and compassionate effort by India to stand beside its neighbors in addressing the pressing needs of their agricultural sectors. Shri Chouhan’s visit reinforces India’s role as a dependable partner, ready to collaborate and share its expertise for the common good of the region.
