Enabling Farmers the Benefits of Global Technologies

Participating in the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting in Brazil; Indian Agriculture Minister initiated important steps towards strengthening agricultural trade, technology and innovation between India and Brazil

Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan , who led the Indian delegation to the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), held on 17th April, 2025 in Brasilia, Brazil, returned home on 21st April.

The theme of 15th BRICS AMM was “Promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Agriculture through Cooperation, Innovation, and Equitable Trade among BRICS Countries”.

Agriculture Ministers and senior officials from BRICS member countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran attended the Meeting.

Chouhan’s visit to Brazil was important on many counts. Besides leading the Indian delegation at the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting, the Union Minister, during his bilateral talks with the Brazilian leaders and officials , strengthened agricultural trade, technology and innovation between India and Brazil.

He stressed on promoting production and export of soya in India. He intended to upgrade Indian farmers by enabling them the benefits of global technologies. He said that joint efforts of various countries would strengthen global food security.

During his Brazil visit, the Minister mainly expressed his concerns related to small farmers of India. He said that unless the small farmers are protected and empowered, the goal of global food security will remain incomplete. The Union Minister said that India is fully committed to inclusive, equitable and sustainable agriculture.

Echoing the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, he said that India always follows the message of trust and cooperation with all countries. He called for enhanced cooperation in agricultural technology, innovation, capacity building and trade facilitation so that farmers and agricultural enterprises of various countries can benefit.

On the BRICS platform, India called for further strengthening cooperation in agricultural technology transfer, research, food processing and trade. Chauhan’s address, on behalf of India, focused on global food security, empowerment of small farmers, agricultural innovation and technological cooperation and advancing partnership with BRICS countries.

Altogether, Chouhan’s visit to Brazil was not just a diplomatic but also a concrete initiative towards technological innovation, production increase and global partnership for Indian agriculture, which could yield direct benefits to the farmers.

As already noted, Chouhan’s visit is expected to give a new direction to agricultural cooperation between India and Brazil. This will boost agricultural trade between the two countries.

The Union Minister expressed his desire to share knowledge with Brazil on climate-friendly soybean varieties, mechanization, precision farming and sustainable agricultural practices. He also expressed his desire to learn from Brazil’s agricultural model, mechanization, irrigation and research and implement it in Indian agriculture so that maximum benefits can be transferred to the farmers.

Cooperation in the areas of biofuel, bioenergy, supply chain integration and agricultural machinery was discussed during the meetings which would enable Indian farmers to have access to global technology. Joint efforts of the two countries will also strengthen global food security as Brazil has achieved tremendous growth in agricultural exports in the last 50 years, an inspiration for India as well.

Chouhan also held bilateral meetings with Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Henrique Baquetta Favero and Minister of Agricultural Development and Family Agriculture, Luiz Paulo Teixeira. During these meetings, the issues of enhancing cooperation in the areas of agriculture, agro-technology, rural development and food security were discussed.

The Union Minister also met 27 members of Brazil’s agribusiness community at Sao Paulo. During this meeting, possibilities of cooperation on agricultural trade, production technology, food processing, biofuel, technological innovation and supply chain integration were discussed.

Chouhan visited soybean production plant, tomato farm and other institutes in Brazil and closely observed the latest technologies related to mechanization, irrigation and food processing. Currently India imports soybean oil, but now both the countries are jointly exploring the possibilities of investing and setting up technology and plants for soybean production and processing. This can boost soybean production and export in India.

Chouhan revealed that there is a plan to work together with Brazil to increase soybean production and processing in India. Besides, possibilities of cooperation between the two countries in mechanization and seed research will also be explored.