India and Argentina set a fresh course in farm cooperation with a three-year plan focused on research, technology exchange and sustainable agricultural growth….reports Asian Lite News
India and Argentina have taken a significant step towards strengthening their agricultural partnership with the signing of a comprehensive work plan for 2025–2027, aimed at expanding cooperation in research, technology exchange and capacity building across key areas of the farm economy.
The agreement was signed between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Argentina’s National Institute of Agricultural Technology, marking a fresh phase in bilateral collaboration at a time when both countries are seeking to boost productivity, sustainability and resilience in agriculture. The signed document was formally exchanged in New Delhi in the presence of the Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, the Director General of ICAR, and Argentina’s Ambassador to India.
Officials said the work plan is designed to build on the natural complementarities between the two agricultural economies, combining India’s scale and diversity with Argentina’s strengths in mechanisation, biotechnology and export-oriented farming systems. The collaboration will span a wide range of areas, including natural resource management, sustainable agronomy, crop and animal biotechnology, livestock improvement, digital agriculture and value chain development.
A strong focus has been placed on practical, field-level solutions. Cooperation will cover zero-tillage farming, farm mechanisation, micro-irrigation and fertigation techniques, as well as biosafety and phytosanitary measures that are increasingly critical for global agricultural trade. The partnership also reflects a shared interest in modernising agriculture through innovation while reducing environmental impact.
Implementation of the work plan will take place through joint research projects, the exchange of germplasm, expert-level interactions, training programmes and study visits. Planned activities include specialised training in greenhouse vegetable production, floriculture, temperate fruit cultivation and post-harvest management, alongside work on functional food development, veterinary diagnostics, precision livestock farming and waste-to-wealth technologies.
Germplasm exchange will form a core pillar of the agreement, with both sides agreeing to collaborate on crops such as soybean, sunflower and maize, as well as blueberry, citrus, wild papaya species, guava and selected vegetable varieties. These exchanges are expected to support crop diversification, improve yields and strengthen resilience to climate and disease pressures.
The work plan also outlines enhanced cooperation in oilseed and pulses value chains, an area of strategic importance for India’s food security. Additional focus areas include agricultural mechanisation, particularly zero-tillage technologies, cotton harvesting machinery and the use of drones, as well as the development of horticulture infrastructure and the exchange of quality planting material.
Plant and animal health feature prominently in the agreement. India and Argentina will collaborate on region-specific strategies to eliminate Foot-and-Mouth Disease, while also strengthening coordination on locust surveillance and management through technical exchanges and the sharing of best practices.
To ensure momentum and accountability, both sides have agreed to conduct annual monitoring and review meetings to track progress and fine-tune implementation.
Argentine Ambassador Mariano Caucino said the agreement flowed directly from the historic summit between Argentine President Javier Milei and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Indian leader’s visit to Argentina in July 2025. He underlined the strong economic complementarity between the two countries and acknowledged the role played by Argentina’s agriculture attaché in advancing cooperation since the office was opened in New Delhi in 2019.
Officials on both sides described the work plan as a forward-looking framework that places science, sustainability and skills at the heart of India–Argentina agricultural ties.
