09 June,2026 02:00 PM IST | Indore | mid-day online correspondent
Meeting is taking place in Indore, the economic capital of MP and India`s cleanest city. Pic/PTI
A five-day BRICS conference, focused on agriculture, began in Madhya Pradesh's Indore, officials said, adding that the discussions are centred on food security, climate-resilient farming, agricultural trade, farmer welfare and innovation.
The meeting, being held under India's BRICS chairmanship, started today and will continue until June 13. Officials from member countries are taking part in the Agriculture Working Group deliberations until June 11, after which agriculture ministers will meet on June 12 and 13.
India's Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Secretary Atish Chandra inaugurated the meeting, reported PTI.
Delegates are discussing a wide range of issues affecting agriculture across the world, including food security, nutrition, climate-smart farming, agricultural trade, supply chains, digital agriculture, research, knowledge-sharing, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.
A joint declaration is expected to be issued after the agriculture ministers conclude their discussions later this week.
BRICS comprises 11 emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
According to officials, BRICS countries account for 42 per cent of the world's agricultural land and more than 42 per cent of global agricultural production. Nearly 70 per cent of the world's 580 million farmers live in BRICS countries, making cooperation among member nations critical for global food security.
The BRICS Agricultural Research Platform, established during India's presidency in 2016, continues to support research collaboration and technical cooperation among member countries.
Speaking ahead of the ministerial sessions, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the conference as a proud moment for both India and Madhya Pradesh.
"This is a proud moment for India and Madhya Pradesh," Chouhan said, highlighting the importance of the gathering in addressing key agricultural challenges facing the world.
The meeting is taking place in Indore, the economic capital of Madhya Pradesh and India's cleanest city. It also coincides with the state government's declaration of 2026 as the 'Year of Farmer Welfare'.
According to Chouhan, the Agriculture Working Group is focusing on four major areas:
The discussions are also examining ways to strengthen support for small and marginal farmers, who form the backbone of agriculture in many BRICS nations, reported IANS.
A special session on June 12 will focus on "Future Food Security through Women and Youth", highlighting the role of women in agriculture and the growing contribution of young people in adopting modern technologies and innovative farming practices.
Delegates are also discussing global challenges such as climate change, unpredictable weather patterns, food wastage and limited resources available to small farmers.
The conference is exploring solutions including regenerative agriculture, improved storage and supply chains, stronger market access and the promotion of allied sectors such as animal husbandry and fisheries to improve farmers' incomes.
Chouhan noted that India has generated 9.80 crore farmer IDs and expanded the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to Rs 2 lakh crore to strengthen post-harvest infrastructure across the country.
(With PTI, IANS Inputs)
