What happened?
On March 12, 2025, India and Chile held their first Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Agriculture in a virtual format. The meeting was co-chaired by Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, India, and Gabriel Layseca, Director, Bureau of Agricultural Studies and Policies (ODEPA), Chile. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture, market access, research collaboration, and capacity building. India highlighted key initiatives such as the Digital Agriculture Mission, the Lakhpati Didi Program, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), while Chile expressed interest in deeper cooperation in horticulture and rural development.
Why it matters to India
As Chile is a major agricultural exporter in Latin America, closer ties with the country could facilitate technology exchange, investment in agri-business, and market access for Indian agricultural products. The collaboration supports India’s push for natural and organic farming, digital agriculture, and sustainable farming practices. Strengthening agricultural partnerships with Latin America aligns with India’s strategy to diversify its food security network and build resilient global supply chains.