On the sidelines of the G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting held on September 12-13, in Cuiabá, Brazil, the Indian delegation, led by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ram Nath Thakur, held a series of bilateral meetings with key international partners including the USA, Brazil, Japan, Germany, the UK, Spain, and the UAE.
On September 12, Thakur met with Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Sakamoto. Both sides committed to strengthening cooperation in areas such as technology use, food processing, cold storage, sustainability, and productivity in Indian agriculture through private investment. Discussions also focused on resolving market access issues, with India urging Japan to expedite approval for Indian pomegranates and grapes, while Japan raised concerns about market access for Japanese cedar.
Thakur held talks with Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Shri Host Carlos Fávaro, on September 13. Both ministers emphasized the importance of their countries’ longstanding relationship and agreed to further cooperation in science and technology, with particular focus on ethanol production. They expressed optimism about finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding between ICAR India and EMBRAPA Brazil ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November. India also sought access to Brazil’s market for agricultural products such as sorghum, rapeseed, cotton, and barley, while Brazil requested access to the Indian market for citrus fruits
In a meeting with Xochitl Torres Small, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture for the United States, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to the USDA and MA&FW Dialogue initiatives. They discussed advancing cooperation in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, agricultural innovation, productivity growth, and crop risk protection. The U.S. also committed to sharing expertise on crop insurance, while India highlighted market access issues for fruits and vegetables. The U.S. raised concerns about expedited access for alfalfa hay fodder to the Indian market.
Minister also met with Ophelia Nick, Parliamentary State Secretary of Germany, to discuss ongoing engagements between the two nations, particularly through the Indo-German Joint Working Group (JWG). Both sides agreed to work together in areas such as artificial intelligence in farming, support for small farmers, agroecology, and organic farming. Germany extended an invitation to Thakur for participation in the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture in Berlin.
During a bilateral meeting with Daniel Zeichner, UK Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, both countries expressed mutual interest in transforming agriculture into a more sustainable food system. They discussed areas such as precision breeding, gene editing, and extension services. The UK expressed interest in learning from India’s agricultural extension models, particularly the role of KVKs and ATMA, while India agreed to explore further collaboration through joint workshops.
In discussions with Spain’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Luis Planas, both sides explored collaboration in technology transfer, water-use efficiency, and climate-resilient agriculture. Spain expressed gratitude for India’s approval of a veterinary certificate for dairy products and sought further cooperation on sanitary and veterinary protocols, particularly for meat products.
Thakur’s meeting with Dr. Amna Al Dahak, UAE’s Minister of Environment and Climate, focused on increasing trade in agriculture and collaboration in research and technology. The UAE expressed interest in vertical farming and high-yield technologies, while both sides discussed sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.