India Proposes Centre of Excellence for Agriculture at 3rd BIMSTEC Ministerial Meet in Nepal

Kathmandu/New Delhi: India reinforced its commitment to regional agricultural collaboration at the 3rd BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministerial Meeting (BAMM) held in Kathmandu today. Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, led the Indian delegation at the high-level meet attended by Agriculture Ministers and senior officials from BIMSTEC member countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The one-day meeting focused on advancing cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors across the Bay of Bengal region. This was the third edition of BAMM, which serves as the apex decision-making body on agricultural matters within the BIMSTEC framework.

In his address, Shri Chouhan highlighted BIMSTEC’s growing significance in India’s foreign policy under the principles of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’. “BIMSTEC naturally aligns with our shared history, cultural heritage, and regional priorities,” he said.

He emphasized India’s initiatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to transform the agricultural landscape — citing schemes such as direct benefit transfers to farmers, Soil Health Cards, the National Food Security Mission, and the NaMo Drone Didi scheme for empowering rural women with agri-drone technology.

India’s focus on organic and natural farming, digital empowerment, and environmental protection also formed a key part of the discussions.

Reaffirming India’s dedication to enhancing agricultural capacity in the region, Chouhan announced that India has already begun hosting training programmes and workshops under the BIMSTEC Agriculture Cooperation Plan (2023–2027), specifically in areas such as seed development, animal health, and pest management.

He also highlighted India’s offer of fully funded BIMSTEC Scholarships for students from member countries to pursue M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies in agriculture in India, strengthening regional academic and technical capacity.

In a major announcement, India proposed to establish a ‘BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Agriculture Cooperation’ in India. This institution will act as a hub for collaborative work on precision farming, climate resilience, AI-based farming tools, gender equality, and sustainable agricultural practices. The centre will also facilitate knowledge-sharing on emerging technologies, including drones and digital platforms to ensure food and nutritional security across BIMSTEC nations.

In a strategic outreach beyond agriculture, Chouhan invited BIMSTEC countries to participate in the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit – 2025, announced by PM Modi. Scheduled to be held in Mumbai from May 1–4, 2025, the event is envisioned as a global platform to celebrate creativity, technology, and collaboration in the media and entertainment sectors.

Minister Chouhan lauded the progress made during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, particularly the collective focus on implementing the Plan of Action for Strengthening Agricultural Cooperation (2023–2027). He acknowledged the efforts toward sustainable development in fisheries and livestock, essential for ensuring livelihoods and food security in the region.

Concluding his remarks, he reiterated India’s unwavering commitment to BIMSTEC’s vision and goals, saying, “BIMSTEC is central to our efforts to ensure food security, climate adaptation, and sustainable agriculture in our region.”