Agriculture policy

In a significant boost to global agricultural cooperation, agriculture ministers from BRICS nations concluded their two-day meeting here with the unanimous adoption of the “Indore Declaration.”

As India aspires to become a “global food basket,” initiatives like this position it as a leader sharing expertise with neighbours. Paswan’s vision aligns with Viksit Bharat, where food processing drives employment, nutrition, and sustainable development.

For Asia’s rice bowl, the coming months will be critical. Farmers, traders, and policymakers must prepare for a potentially volatile period that could test food security across the region.

While buffers exist, the interplay of El Niño with other climatic factors underscores the growing importance of climate adaptation in India’s agriculture-dependent economy.

The “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” is more than an awareness drive – it is a clarion call to safeguard the foundation of India’s food security: its soils.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the planters' association urgently calls for coordinated, pre-emptive action.

Tapping into domestic reserves of phosphate and potash, along with promoting balanced fertiliser use that moves beyond urea dominance.

The kingdom’s Gross National Happiness philosophy, which places equal weight on economic progress and environmental stewardship, faces a practical test here.