Union Agriculture Minister holds bilateral meeting with Russian counterpart to deepen India–Russia cooperation in the sector

08 December 2025, New Delhi: Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Oxana Lut, Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, at Krishi Bhawan, where both sides reviewed ongoing cooperation and identified new avenues to strengthen agricultural ties.

The Ministers reaffirmed that India–Russia relations remain anchored in trust, friendship, and long-standing cooperation. Mr. Chouhan highlighted the steady rise in bilateral agricultural trade, currently at USD 3.5 billion and emphasised the need to ensure more balanced and diversified trade flows. He also thanked the Russian side for resolving long-pending market-access issues related to Indian potatoes, pomegranates, and seeds, a move expected to boost India’s horticulture exports.

Discussions explored expanded opportunities for Indian exports, particularly in food grains and horticulture products, as both countries expressed interest in widening the agri-trade basket.

A significant milestone of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICAR and Russia’s Federal Center for Animal Health, aimed at strengthening collaboration in agricultural research, innovation, animal health, and capacity building.

Mr. Chouhan also extended an invitation to Russia to participate in the BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting that India will host next year.

Both delegations agreed to deepen cooperation in fertilizers, seed development, market access, joint research, and new areas of innovation. Minister Oxana Lut expressed Russia’s strong interest in expanding trade and reinforcing partnership across agriculture value chains.

The Russian delegation included Deputy Ministers Maxim Markovich and Marina Afonina, Sergey Dankvert, Head of FSVPS, and Daria Koroleva, Director, Asia Division, among other officials.

The Indian side was represented by Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary (DA&FW); M. L. Jat, Secretary (DARE); Rajat Kumar Mishra, Secretary (Fertilizers); officials from the Ministry of External Affairs; and senior officers of the agriculture ministry.

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