Regular Update
New Delhi: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, held a bilateral meeting with Fiji’s Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Tomasi Tunabuna, at Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi. The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation between India and Fiji in agriculture and food security.
During the discussions, both ministers reviewed existing collaboration and explored new opportunities for future partnership. Chouhan highlighted the historic and friendly ties between the two nations, noting that mutual respect, cultural connections, and strong people-to-people links have strengthened their partnership. He also emphasized that agriculture and food security are important sectors that can further deepen bilateral relations.
The two countries agreed to extend their existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for another five years. They also decided to set up a Joint Working Group to make agricultural cooperation more effective.
The collaboration will focus on student exchange programs, training and capacity-building initiatives, sharing small agricultural machinery, and exchanging technology related to digital farming. Discussions also covered strengthening agricultural research facilities, sharing genetic resources, and exchanging knowledge to reduce food loss and wastage.
The Fiji delegation included Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry Charanjeet Singh, High Commissioner Jagannath Sami, Permanent Secretary of the Sugar Ministry Dr. Vinesh Kumar, Chairman of the Fiji Sugar Corporation Nitya Reddy, and Advisor Paulo Daurewa.
From India, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education M. L. Jat, and senior officials from the ministry attended the meeting.
