Secretary Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi bilateral meet with Estonian Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, Ms. Piret Hartman in New Delhi

Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare

Posted On: 04 DEC 2024 6:51PM by PIB Delhi

Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW)  held a bilateral meeting with Ms. Piret Hartman, Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture of Estonia at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi today. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in the agriculture and allied sectors between India and Estonia.

Welcoming the Estonian Minister, Dr. Chaturvedi outlined the key priorities of the Government of India in the agricultural sector. These included ensuring food security, leveraging technology for digital infrastructure to enhance service delivery to farmers, promoting crop diversification to increase farmer incomes, and boosting value addition in horticultural products. He also emphasized the importance of climate-resilient and organic farming, as well as expanding agricultural exports.

The Secretary elaborated on India’s strategies for supporting small farmers, recognizing their critical role in the nation’s agricultural landscape. He discussed initiatives such as Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), contract farming, crop diversification and diversification into livestock, fisheries, and other agricultural sectors. Dr. Chaturvedi also outlined government policies addressing the challenges of climate change, including the promotion of better seeds, water-use efficiency, sustainable soil health management, and the use of traditional natural farming practices. He emphasized role of surface water for irrigation through initiatives like Catch the Rain and improved irrigation solutions, including the maintenance of water reservoirs and ponds.

Ms. Hartman also shared Estonia’s notable achievements in organic farming, food safety, and sustainable agricultural practices. She highlighted the country’s expertise in IT-driven agricultural solutions, including innovations in water optimization and precision agriculture. Ms. Hartman also expressed interest in collaborating with India on food processing, value addition in agricultural products, and the application of technology-driven solutions to enhance agricultural productivity.

Further, Mr. Minhaj Alam, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), highlighted the significant opportunities for collaboration in India’s food processing sector, while the Shri Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary for International Cooperation at the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, underscored the potential for mutually beneficial partnerships in the agri-tech start-up ecosystem between both countries.

Both sides expressed strong interest in further exploring avenues for cooperation through institutional mechanisms, with an emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices, technology exchange, and capacity-building initiatives in agriculture and allied sectors.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides, including Shri Minhaj Alam, Additional Secretary (MoFPI), Sh. Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary (IC) at the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, and representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The Estonian delegation included Ms. Marje Luup, Ambassador of Estonia to India, Ms. Marika Saar, Counsellor, and Mr. Margus Solnson, Deputy Head of Mission. This bilateral engagement marks an important step forward in fostering closer ties and cooperation between India and Estonia in the agriculture and allied sectors.

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