The Government of India has detailed its continued efforts to advance agricultural research cooperation, boost export potential and develop supporting infrastructure through both multilateral platforms and bilateral partnerships. These initiatives are designed to improve agricultural systems, facilitate market access and widen India’s engagement in global agri trade.
Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Ramnath Thakur outlined India’s ongoing initiatives within the BRICS framework, emphasising their role in advancing international collaboration in agriculture as part of the country’s broader strategic approach.
Collaborative Research Under the BRICS Framework
India has continued to participate actively in agricultural cooperation under the BRICS framework, with a focus on food security, sustainable practices, and institutional knowledge exchange. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, along with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has shared best practices in climate resilient agriculture, crop diversification, soil health management, and precision farming.
A key initiative in this area is the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform (BRICS-ARP), which was launched during India’s BRICS Presidency in 2021. The platform functions as a virtual network connecting research institutions across BRICS countries, supporting joint research projects, pilot initiatives, and training programmes to encourage cross border knowledge exchange and collaborative problem solving.
In a recent development, ICAR signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Brazil’s Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) in July 2025. This agreement focuses on cooperation in developing climate resilient, high yielding soybean varieties, expanding the scope of Indo-Brazilian agricultural research collaboration within the BRICS framework.
Export Policy and Market Development
The Government of India has introduced a range of measures to boost agricultural exports and improve supply chain infrastructure. The Agriculture Export Policy provides a strategic framework to address logistical challenges, promote product diversification, and strengthen storage and cold chain networks to minimize post harvest losses and increase global competitiveness.
India’s diplomatic missions have played a role in facilitating export promotion through trade dialogues and buyer-seller meets. Commodity boards such as the Coffee Board and Tea Board are also engaged in overseas promotional campaigns for key agricultural products, in partnership with trade bodies and exporters.
To ensure Indian exports meet global standards, support has been provided for compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical regulations. The adoption of the e-Phyto certification system has helped streamline the exchange of SPS certificates, improving transparency and simplifying regulatory processes.
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Value Addition, Traceability and Certification
Efforts to improve value addition and branding for Indian agricultural exports have included the development of sea protocols for perishable produce, enhancements in packaging, and the promotion of traceability systems. Certification mechanisms such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) have been encouraged, along with support for exporters and farmers to obtain international quality and safety accreditations. Capacity building programmes have been implemented at both the producer and exporter levels to equip stakeholders with the knowledge and technical skills necessary for meeting international market requirements.
India has also actively participated in international trade exhibitions such as BIOFACH, Gulfood, AAHAR, Organic and Natural Products Expo, and Indus Food. These events have provided opportunities to showcase Indian agricultural products and explore new export markets. Platforms like World Food India have served as spaces to promote investment in the domestic food processing sector and expand global exposure for Indian enterprises operating in the agri food domain.
Bilateral Engagements and Infrastructure Initiatives
India has engaged in bilateral cooperation through Joint Working Groups with selected countries to support collaboration in food processing technology, automation, cold chain solutions, food park development, and institutional partnerships. On the infrastructure front, schemes such as the Agro-Processing Cluster Scheme and the Integrated Cold Chain Scheme have been launched to support the establishment and modernization of food processing and preservation capacities. These initiatives aim to attract investment and improve the competitiveness of Indian agricultural products in global markets by addressing infrastructure gaps and enhancing efficiency across the value chain.