Nepal-India agriculture working group meeting ends pledging to work together

Kathmandu, Dec. 31: The 9th meeting of the Nepal–India Joint Agriculture Working Group (JAWG) concluded in Kathmandu on Monday, with both countries agreeing on a series of concrete decisions to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the agriculture sector.

The two-day meeting, held on December 28 and 29, was co-chaired by Dr. Hari Bahadur KC, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Government of Nepal, and Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda, Additional Secretary at the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.

This is the first meeting held under the new Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation signed between the two countries on April 9, 2025, and the first meeting of this high-level mechanism after a gap of about five years since January 2020.

At the beginning of the meeting, the delegations of both countries made detailed presentations on the agricultural policies, priorities and current challenges of their respective countries, according to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. 

Presenting data showing that bilateral agricultural trade between Nepal and India exceeded USD 1.6 billion in 2024–25, both sides expressed their commitment to further balance, manage and strengthen this trade relationship.

During the meeting, the Indian side expressed its willingness to work closely with Nepal in agricultural research, technology transfer and infrastructure development in line with its Neighbourhood First policy.

While reviewing the achievements of bilateral cooperation, the Nepali side stated that 92,766 doses of semen have so far been produced from 15 Murrah bulls provided to Nepal by the Government of India, and thanked the Indian side for its significant contribution to animal husbandry and livestock improvement in Nepal.

In the context of trade facilitation, Nepal thanked India for recognising its laboratory testing of eight types of agricultural products and requested to further expand this list and ensure unhindered market access for Nepali agricultural products in the Indian market.

The ministry also stated that the meeting also discussed in depth the issues of cooperation in modern technological issues, including digital agriculture, climate-resilient agriculture, natural farming systems and food security.

In the context of the proposals presented at the meeting, an important decision has been made to prepare and implement a 'Biennial Action Plan' within the next three months to materialise cooperation in the agricultural sector between the two countries, said Joint Secretary Dr. KC.

In addition, the two sides agreed to improve logistics processes for the smooth supply of chemical fertilisers, cooperate in the development of agricultural infrastructure, and hold regular dialogue between the relevant agencies—DFTQC and FSSAI, and the NPPO Nepal and India—to resolve technical issues related to food quality and quarantine.

Nepal and India have agreed to work on a separate action plan through discussions between NARC and ICAR and to move forward by entering into memorandum of understandings for cooperation in the livestock and fisheries sectors, said Dr. KC.

He said that the meeting was highly encouraging and fruitful in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the agriculture sector. It has been decided that the upcoming tenth meeting of the Joint Agriculture Working Group will be held in India at a mutually agreed time.