India Strengthens Agricultural Cooperation with Nepal and Maldives

5 February 2026, New Delhi

Dr. Madan Prasad Pariyar, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Government of Nepal, and Mr. Ahmed Hassan Didi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Welfare, Republic of Maldives, called on Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, today in New Delhi.

During the meeting, the Nepalese Minister expressed his gratitude to the Government of India for the invitation and the opportunity to engage in discussions on issues of mutual interest. Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted the long-standing partnership between India and Nepal in the field of agricultural research, noting that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has consistently worked with Nepal to strengthen research collaboration in mutually identified priority areas.

On this occasion, India and Nepal signed a Work Plan (2026–2030) between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC).

The Work Plan aims to promote exchange visits, training, and capacity-building programmes in the crops and livestock sectors, thereby enhancing Nepal’s agricultural research capabilities. The agreement lays a strong foundation for continued cooperation in agricultural research and education between the two countries.

The Minister from Maldives appreciated India’s continued support in addressing issues of mutual concern. He emphasized that, in the absence of a formal institutional mechanism for cooperation in agricultural research and education, the ongoing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICAR and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and Agriculture (MOFMRA), Maldives, should be expedited to ensure focused efforts and maximum benefits for both sides.

The Ministers from Nepal and Maldives extended invitations to Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to visit their respective countries to further strengthen bilateral partnerships. The Union Minister acknowledged the invitations and conveyed that he would consider them in the future.

Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary, (DARE) & Director General, (ICAR), along with other senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, were also present during the meeting.