India and ASEAN Adopt 5-Year Action Plan (2026–2030) to Strengthen Agricultural Trade and Food Security

India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have formally agreed to implement the ASEAN-India Medium-Term Plan of Action for Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry 2026–2030. The joint framework was finalized during the 9th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AIMMAF) held in New Delhi, co-chaired by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Philippines Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. The five-year strategic plan focuses on four primary pillars: policy dialogue and trade facilitation in resilient value chains, institutional networking and digital innovation, joint research and technology transfer, and human resource development along with farmer exchanges. Key priorities highlighted by the ministers include climate-resilient crop varieties, low-emission rice cultivation, soil health management, circular bioeconomy, and the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) in precision farming. With bilateral trade in goods between India and ASEAN surpassing $128 billion in the 2025–26 fiscal year, both sides underscored the urgency of building resilient agricultural supply chains against mounting global challenges such as climate disruptions, input price volatility, and geopolitical uncertainties. The meeting also highlighted ongoing initiatives like the ASEAN-India Fellowship for Higher Education in Agriculture and targeted trade facilitation measures to enhance market access for smallholder farmers across the region.