India-Chile 1st JWG meeting on Agriculture held

The 1^st Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Agriculture was held between India and Chile on 12^th March 2025 in virtualmode. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary (IC), Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfares and Mr. Gabriel Layseca, Director of the Department of International Affairs, Bureau of Agricultural Studies and Policies (ODEPA). Officials from both countries emphasized strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors.

Mr. Ajeet Kumar Sahu provided an overview of the agriculture and allied sectors emphasizing India’s remarkable agricultural achievements. He highlighted a series of innovative initiatives launched by the government to strengthen the agricultural sector. These include the Digital Agriculture Mission, the Women-led Development initiatives such as the Lakhpati Didi Program and Krishi Sakhi, as well as efforts to empower farmers through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Other noteworthy programs mentioned by him included Natural and Organic Farming, Crop Insurance, e-NAM, and AgriSURE, which aims to foster growth in the agriculture sector and rural development.

Mr. Gabriel Layseca emphasized that Chile values its relationship with India and expressed a strong desire to enhance cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sector. Both countries, with their rich experience in agriculture, have the potential to complement each other in boosting agricultural productivity, promoting rural development, and improving farmers’ welfare. He further noted that this meeting marks a significant step toward deepening and strengthening the bilateral relations between India and Chile, setting the stage for even greater collaboration in the future.

Both sides discussed key issues related to market access, cooperation in horticulture, capacity building in the areas of extension, and research collaboration among other issues.