Nepal and India to Roll Out Two-Year Action Plan to Deepen Agricultural Cooperation

Kathmandu, December 2025 : Nepal and India have agreed to prepare and implement a biennial action plan within the next three months to ensure that existing bilateral agreements on agriculture translate into measurable and practical outcomes. The decision was taken during the ninth meeting of the Nepal–India Joint Agriculture Working Group, held over two days in Kathmandu, according to Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

The meeting marked an important step toward strengthening cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors, with both sides emphasising the need to move beyond framework agreements and focus on implementation. Officials from the two countries discussed a broad range of areas, including crop production, livestock development, research collaboration, fertiliser supply, and market access.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was an agreement to enhance collaboration between agricultural universities and research institutions in both countries. This includes closer cooperation between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC). To ensure focused progress, the two sides decided to develop separate, dedicated action plans for academic and research partnerships, aimed at knowledge sharing, joint studies, and technology exchange.

The working group also agreed to expand cooperation in the livestock, poultry, and fisheries sectors under a separate memorandum of understanding. These sectors are considered crucial for improving rural incomes, nutrition, and employment in Nepal, while also offering opportunities for cross-border collaboration in breeding, disease control, and capacity building.

Addressing long-standing operational challenges, both sides reached an understanding to improve logistical arrangements for the smooth supply of chemical fertilisers, an issue of particular importance to Nepal’s farming community. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in agricultural infrastructure development, including storage, irrigation, and value-chain facilities. Regular dialogue between technical agencies will be maintained to resolve issues related to food quality standards and quarantine procedures, the ministry said.

The Indian delegation reiterated New Delhi’s commitment to expanding agricultural cooperation with Nepal in line with its “Neighbourhood First” policy. This includes support in agricultural research, technology transfer, and infrastructure development to promote sustainable and resilient farming systems.

Reviewing the progress of ongoing initiatives, the Nepali side highlighted the successful outcomes of livestock cooperation. It informed the Indian delegation that 92,766 doses of semen have so far been produced from 15 high-quality Murrah male buffaloes gifted by the Indian government. These buffaloes were provided following an agreement reached during former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to New Delhi in 2023, with the aim of improving native buffalo breeds in Nepal. Nepal acknowledged the significant contribution of this support to its livestock development programmes and expressed gratitude to the Indian government.

Trade facilitation was another major focus of the discussions. Nepal welcomed India’s decision to recognise laboratory testing for eight categories of Nepali agricultural products and urged an expansion of this list. In April this year, India officially recognised test certificates issued by Nepal’s National Food and Feed Reference Laboratory, enabling the export of selected food products tested within Nepal. Nepal also sought unhindered market access for its agricultural produce in India.

The meeting further explored cooperation in emerging areas such as digital agriculture, climate-resilient farming, natural farming practices, and food security, reflecting shared concerns over climate change and sustainable development.

Both sides agreed that the tenth meeting of the Joint Agriculture Working Group will be held in India, with dates to be finalised through mutual consultation. The meeting was co-chaired by Hari Bahadur K.C., Joint Secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Pramod Kumar Meherda, Additional Secretary at India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.