India and Italy Explore Agricultural Cooperation Opportunities

New Delhi: In a significant move towards enhancing bilateral ties, Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, met with H.E. Ambassador Antonio Bartoli of Italy at Krishi Bhawan on October 9, 2024. The discussions centered on exploring potential areas of cooperation in the agriculture sector between the two nations.

During the meeting, Dr. Chaturvedi emphasized the strong and friendly relations between India and Italy, highlighting the immense potential for collaboration in trade, investment, and technology within agriculture and allied sectors. He proposed that this cooperation could be fortified by leveraging the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the countries, especially through regular Joint Working Group (JWG) meetings. Additionally, he highlighted opportunities for Italian companies to invest in India’s food parks.

Both sides acknowledged the significance of advancing collaboration across various areas, including:

• Technical and legal cooperation on plant variety protection and the seeds sector.
• Agricultural research and education.
• Protection of Geographical Indications.
• Promotion of organic and natural farming.
• Application of innovative technologies in precision agriculture.
• Skill development for Indian migrant workers.
• Fostering industry interaction.

The meeting also included representatives from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Ministry of External Affairs, and senior officials from various divisions of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, reflecting a comprehensive approach to enhancing agricultural ties between India and Italy.