Afghanistan's Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Mawlawi Ataullah Omari, concluded a high-level visit to India on Sunday, reaffirming the commitment to continued bilateral engagement and agricultural cooperation between the two nations. The visit marked the fourth ministerial-level delegation from Afghanistan to India since October 2025, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Key Meetings and Areas of Cooperation
During the visit, Omari met with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The two sides reviewed ongoing cooperation and explored new avenues for collaboration in agriculture, irrigation, livestock, agricultural research, education, capacity building, and agri-trade. The MEA stated that food security, seed systems, and enhancement of crop productivity featured prominently in the discussions.
India reiterated its commitment to supporting Afghanistan's agricultural sector through cooperation in climate-resilient and bio-fortified crop varieties, sustainable irrigation practices, water harvesting, watershed development, and other areas of mutual interest.
Focus on Food Processing and Bilateral Trade
In a separate meeting, Omari met with Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in food processing through value addition, infrastructure development, technology transfer, capacity building, and promotion of bilateral trade in agricultural and food products.
The Afghan Minister also met with Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, to exchange views on ongoing bilateral cooperation aimed at supporting the welfare and development of the Afghan people.
Engagement with Key Institutions
The delegation interacted with several prominent institutions, including the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), International Potato Centre (CIP), International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).
These interactions aimed to enhance technical cooperation and explore joint initiatives in agricultural research, capacity building, and technology transfer.
