Both sides explore opportunities to deepen collaboration in the Agriculture Sector

The 5th meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Agriculture was held between India and South Africa today in virtual mode. The meeting was co-chaired by Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary (IC), Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfares, and Thapsana Molepo, Acting Director, International Trade Promotion, South Africa. Both sides underscored the significance of the meeting as a key milestone in deepening bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture and allied sectors.

Ajeet Kumar Sahu provided an overview of the agriculture and allied sectors, emphasising India’s remarkable agricultural achievements. He highlighted a series of innovative initiatives launched by the government to strengthen the agricultural sector, which included the use of digital solutions, promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices, risk mitigation, and credit initiatives of the government.

Thapsana Molepapa provided an overview of South Africa’s key priorities in the agriculture sector, reaffirming the country’s strong commitment to enhancing its valued partnership with India. He underscored South Africa’s keen interest in expanding cooperation in critical areas such as extension services, capacity building, and the seed sector, among others.

During the discussions, both sides explored opportunities to deepen collaboration between the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) of South Africa and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The key areas of focus included knowledge exchange, joint research initiatives, capacity building, and market access issues.