India and New Zealand continue to work together to strengthen agricultural cooperation

Both Ministers emphasised the potential of the partnership envisaged in the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) being finalised between the two countries for the overall development of Horticulture

A meeting between Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, and Damien O’Connor, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Biosecurity, New Zealand was held. Both leaders reiterated their commitments to work together in strengthening the agricultural cooperation and collaboration between the two countries.

Tomar informed the New Zealand Minister about India’s initiatives in celebrating the year 2023 as the International Year of Millet and sought their cooperation in promoting the health and other benefits of Millet. Both Ministers emphasised the potential of the partnership envisaged in the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) being finalised between the two countries for the overall development of Horticulture.

The Ministers assured each other of their commitments towards maintaining the quality and safety of the agricultural commodities being traded between the two countries and resolved to continue working on phytosanitary measures and systems. The Ministers also discussed the importance of developing a sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural system. The New Zealand Minister invited India to join the Global Research Alliance which is an alliance of 67 countries for sharing research on mitigation of climate change impacts on agriculture.

Both Ministers emphasised the potential of the