Nepal and India have agreed to develop and implement a biennial action plan within the next three months aimed at turning bilateral agricultural agreements into concrete outcomes, Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development stated on Monday.
The decision was reached during the ninth Nepal–India Joint Agriculture Working Group meeting held in Kathmandu, where both sides emphasized strengthening collaboration between agricultural universities and research organizations, including India’s ICAR and Nepal’s NARC, through specific time-bound initiatives. Additional cooperation will focus on the livestock, poultry, and fisheries sectors under a separate memorandum of understanding.
The two nations also agreed to streamline logistics for the smooth supply of chemical fertilizers, boost agricultural infrastructure development, and maintain ongoing dialogues to resolve technical issues related to food quality standards and quarantine requirements. India reaffirmed its commitment to expanding agricultural research, technology transfer, and infrastructure support in Nepal under its “Neighbourhood First” policy.
Highlighting progress under existing frameworks, Nepal reported that 92,766 doses of semen have been produced from 15 high-quality Murrah male buffaloes gifted by India during former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to New Delhi in 2023. This support is aimed at improving native buffalo breeds and strengthening Nepal’s livestock sector, with Nepal expressing gratitude for India’s contribution.
The meeting also addressed India’s recognition of laboratory testing for eight categories of Nepali agricultural products, allowing select items tested domestically to be exported to India. Nepal requested further expansion of the recognized list and sought unhindered access for its agricultural produce to Indian markets.
Both sides discussed emerging areas for cooperation, including digital agriculture, climate-resilient farming, natural farming systems, and food security. It was agreed that the tenth meeting of the Joint Agriculture Working Group will be held in India, with dates to be finalized through mutual consultation.
The session was co-chaired by Hari Bahadur K.C., Joint Secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Pramod Kumar Meherda, Additional Secretary at India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
