On April 21, Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan completed a fruitful trip to Brazil. The trip was an important step toward strengthening bilateral relations with the country. It was part of the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting held in Brasília. The interactions between Chouhan and the ministers in Brazil yielded not only improved global relations but also a pledge for increased cooperation in the field of agriculture, technology, and sustainable development, among others. The outcomes of his visit will empower farmers with innovative ideas and technological support, helping them meet global food security standards and contribute to the inclusive, sustainable development India aims to achieve.
Historic milestone in India-Brazil agri cooperation
Chouhan’s visit was more than diplomatic, it was a comprehensive engagement encompassing policy talk, exposure on the ground, and strategic alignment.
As the chair of the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers Meeting, Chouhan highlighted India’s strong support for small farmers, who are the heart of Indian agriculture. The conference was centered around the theme: “Promoting inclusive and sustainable agriculture through cooperation, innovation, and fair trade among BRICS countries.” Agriculture ministers from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, and new BRICS members like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran attended the event.
In his speech, Chouhan spoke about India’s belief in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” meaning “the world is one family” and stressed the importance of fairness and teamwork in global food systems.
Apart from the BRICS conference, the visit also marked a big step forward in India-Brazil relations. Chouhan met with Brazil’s Agriculture and Livestock Minister, Carlos Henrique Baquetta Favero, and the Minister for Agricultural Development and Family Agriculture, Luiz Paulo Teixeira. Their talks focused on working together in agricultural technology, food security, and rural development.
In Sao Paulo, Chouhan also met with 27 top Brazilian agribusiness leaders. They discussed possible future partnerships in areas like agricultural trade, food processing, biofuels, and improving supply chains.
Consolidating trade and technology
Among the top concerns of the trip was expanding farm trade most importantly soybeans. The global largest soybean exporter, Brazil, is worth 159 billion dollars of agri-products exported abroad in 2023. India, already a major purchaser of Brazilian soybean oil, wants to diversify by increasing local processing and manufacturing of soybeans.
Chouhan explained that India is keen to collaborate with Brazil in creating soyabean production and processing facilities in India. This collaboration would look to leverage Brazil’s advanced climate-tolerant seed varieties, mechanisation, and precision agriculture methodologies.
Visits to soybean farms, tomato farms, and agricultural research centers exposed Chouhan to Brazil’s technological advantage in irrigation, mechanisation, and food processing first-hand. For instance, Brazil’s average per-hectare soybean yield is 3.5 tons—three times India’s 1.1 tons in 2023. Adopting Brazilian best practices would assist in bridging this gap and help India’s 120 million farmers, who are predominantly small landholders.
The journey also presented the opportunity for more intense collaboration in the biofuels area. Brazil’s expertise in sugarcane-based ethanol production fits perfectly into India’s future plans under its National Biofuel Policy. Collaborative venture in farm machinery and supply-chain management would otherwise empower Indian farmers to penetrate global markets and increase their returns.
Supporting small farmers
Chouhan aggressively pleaded the case of the smallholder farmer, asserting that true world food security cannot be achieved without the development of the world’s small farmers. In India alone, there are more than 86 per cent of farmers with less than two hectares each, and thus their development is a matter of national significance.
He believed that more collaboration among BRICS countries is needed in areas of technology transfer, research, food processing, and trade facilitation to help these farmers. India, already with programs such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and Soil Health Card programme, is working towards sustainable agriculture.
Lessons may be learned from Brazil’s integrated crop-livestock and no-till farming. With over 35 million hectares of no-till fields, Brazil has minimised soil erosion while maximising carbon sequestration. India, with its 140 million hectares of tillable land, hopes to follow suit in implementing such green initiatives to enhance its own climate resilience.
India and Brazil are together ready to leave their mark globally. The global population is likely to grow to 9.7 billion by 2050, and food production has to increase by a minimum of 60%. By working together through research, innovation, and sustainable commerce, both countries envision making wholesome food available across the globe.
More than Agriculture
Chouhan’s visit also emphasised India’s cultural and environmental values. During his stay in Brasilia, he participated in a tree-planting ceremony at the Indian Embassy under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign.
He also addressed the Indian diaspora community in Sao Paulo, congratulating them on making efforts to foster stronger connections between the two countries. He discussed “Amrit Kaal” the prequel years to India’s 100th anniversary of independence in 2047 and India’s aim to be a developed nation by then. Such sentimental and emotional connections contributed to the value addition to the visit.
A vision for future
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s visit has paved the way for an efficient and bountiful India-Brazil association in agriculture. Utilising the experience of Brazil in new-farming techniques and sustainability, India intends to change its farm economy to be strong and efficient.
Soybean cultivation, biofuels, and ecologically friendly cultivation will be two of the pillars of this association. As consumption of edible oil increases in India 20 billion dollars imports in 2023, the local production as well as processing will be highly crucial.
On a bigger scale, such collaboration is also in India’s interests of foreign policy. The BRICS alliance, representing 42 per cent of the global population and 27 per cent of the world’s GDP, is a solid foundation for India to become a leader in agricultural innovation.
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