India and South Africa Deepen Agricultural Ties at 5th Joint Working Group Meeting

New Delhi, Aug 27 (KNN) India and South Africa convened the 5th Meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Agriculture on Tuesday through a virtual platform.

The meeting was co-chaired by Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary (IC), Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, and Thapsana Molepo, Acting Director, International Trade Promotion, Republic of South Africa, according to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

The minister shared insights on agriculture and allied sectors, emphasizing India’s remarkable agricultural achievements. He highlighted a series of innovative initiatives launched by the government to strengthen the agricultural sector, including the use of digital solutions, the promotion of climate-resilient agricultural practices, risk mitigation and credit initiatives.

Thapsana Molepo provided an overview of South Africa’s key priorities in 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.

The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and the Ministry of External Affairs.

Both sides underscored the significance of the meeting as a key milestone in deepening bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture and allied sectors.

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