Nepalese Parliamentary Delegation Confer with India's Secretary of Agriculture and DARE Officials to Bolster Agricultural Collaboration between Nepal and India
In a significant step towards deepening India-Nepal agricultural relations, a 16-member Nepali parliamentary delegation visited Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, on July 29, 2025. The visit aimed to provide the Nepali MPs with a comprehensive understanding of India's modernizing agricultural sector.
Led by Sanjay Kumar Gautam, the delegation, representing the Free Youth Democratic Organization (FYDON), held discussions with senior Indian officials, including Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), and Dr. Mangi Lal Jat.
The discussions focused on India's agricultural advancements and strengthening bilateral cooperation. Secretary Chaturvedi highlighted the promotion of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) as a flagship initiative, while Dr. Jat assured the delegation of India's readiness to extend scientific and technological support to Nepal.
The dialogue centred around several key topics, including soil health management, efficient fertilizer use, precision farming, irrigation practices, crop insurance schemes, agricultural marketing, and strategies for climate-resilient farming.
India shared its successful Soil Health Card Scheme, nutrient subsidy models, and organic farming initiatives as scalable frameworks for Nepal. The delegation was briefed on India's Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), which targets “Har Khet Ko Pani” (water to every field), promoting water-use efficiency and micro-irrigation technologies.
India's Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana was also introduced, driving a data-based, district-level approach for sustainable farming. This approach integrates digitized geospatial mapping, AI-based farm advisory, drone surveillance, and sensor-based fertilization, all of which could serve as a model for Nepal's agricultural modernization efforts.
Programs employing climate-resilient crop varieties, digital advisory platforms, and weather-based alert systems were presented to support Nepal’s adaptation to climate change. Secretary Chaturvedi emphasized India's dual focus on achieving nutritional security alongside food security.
Moreover, the importance of a multi-dimensional approach involving policy collaboration, technology exchange, and stronger linkages between farmers and agri-industries in both countries was stressed by Dr. Jat. The cooperation reflects a broader, strategic intent to share technological innovations, policy frameworks, and capacity-building efforts to jointly improve agricultural sustainability, productivity, and resilience in the face of climate challenges in the Himalayan region.
Secretary Chaturvedi discussed digital transformation in agriculture as a flagship initiative, with the 20th installment of PM-KISAN to be directly credited to farmers' accounts on August 2, 2025. Robust risk mitigation frameworks aimed at safeguarding farmers against market volatility and climate uncertainties were also discussed.
This visit is being viewed as a significant step towards deepening India-Nepal agricultural relations, with both nations working together to foster new opportunities for knowledge-sharing and regional collaboration.
[1] India-Nepal Agricultural Partnership Progresses: A Focus on Precision Farming and Climate-Resilient Systems
[2] India and Nepal Collaborate on Agricultural Modernization
[3] India's Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: A Model for Nepal's Agricultural Modernization
[5] India and Nepal Strengthen Agricultural Cooperation in the Himalayan Region
- The discussions between the Nepali delegation and Indian officials demonstrated a focus on policy-and-legislation as they explored potential collaborations on agricultural advancements, such as promoting Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and climate-resilient farming.
- The visit by the Nepali parliamentary delegation has opened doors for politics related to agricultural modernization and international cooperation, as both countries work together to address challenges like efficient irrigation practices, digital farming technology, and climate-resilient crop varieties.
