India and Sri Lanka Hold First Joint Working Group Meeting on Agriculture

IN NEWS — India and Sri Lanka Hold First Joint Working Group Meeting on Agriculture

ANALYSIS

1. Context:
   India and Sri Lanka held the first Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Agriculture in New Delhi to enhance bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector.
2. Leadership:
   • The meeting was co-chairedby:
     • Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
     • D. P. Wickramasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Government of Sri Lanka.
3. Key Areas of Collaboration Discussed:
   • Farm mechanisation for improving productivity and reducing labour intensity.
   • Organic and natural farming for sustainable agricultural practices.
   • Seed sector development to enhance crop yields and quality.
   • Agri-entrepreneurship and agri-startups for innovation and rural employment.
   • Digital agriculture for technology-enabled farming solutions.
   • Crop insurance mechanisms to safeguard farmers against losses.
4. Institutional Engagement:
   • The Sri Lankan delegation visited the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi to understand India’s research and innovation ecosystem in agriculture.
5. Significance of the Meeting:
   • Strengthened the bilateral framework for agricultural cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
   • Reaffirmed the shared commitment to promote food and nutritional security in both nations.
   • Marked an important step in enhancing regional collaboration in agricultural innovation and sustainability.

STATIC PART

• Event: First Joint Working Group Meeting on Agriculture
• Countries Involved: India and Sri Lanka
• Venue: New Delhi
• Indian Representative: Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
• Sri Lankan Representative: D. P. Wickramasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation
• Focus Areas: Farm mechanisation, organic/natural farming, seed development, digital agriculture, crop insurance, agri-startups
• Institutional Visit: Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi

Updated – 31 Oct 2025 ; 12:30 PM | NewsOnAir

Source: News On Air