What Did Afghanistan's Agriculture Minister Discuss During His Visit to India?

During his recent visit to India, Afghanistan's Agriculture Minister Mawlawi Ataullah Omari engaged in significant discussions with Indian officials, including Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The talks centered on enhancing cooperation in agriculture, irrigation, and food processing, with a strong emphasis on food security and crop productivity. This visit marks a continued effort to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations, reflecting a commitment to mutual development and support for Afghanistan's agricultural sector. The minister's delegation also interacted with various agricultural organizations to explore further collaboration opportunities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 12, 2026, 18:26 IST

Afghanistan's Minister Engages in Productive Talks in India

New Delhi: Mawlawi Ataullah Omari, the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock from Afghanistan, visited India from July 7 to July 12. During his stay, he engaged in discussions with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, focusing on potential areas for collaboration, as reported by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Accompanied by a high-ranking delegation, this visit marked the fourth ministerial engagement between Afghanistan and India since October 2025, indicating a sustained effort in strengthening bilateral relations.

The Afghan minister's agenda included meetings with Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who oversees both Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development. Together, they assessed existing partnerships and identified new opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, irrigation, livestock, agricultural research, education, capacity building, and agri-trade.

Key topics of discussion included food security, seed systems, and strategies to boost crop productivity.

India reaffirmed its dedication to enhancing Afghanistan's agricultural landscape through initiatives focused on climate-resilient and bio-fortified crop varieties, sustainable irrigation methods, water conservation, and watershed management, according to the MEA.

Additionally, the Afghan minister held discussions with Chirag Paswan, the Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, where they explored ways to enhance cooperation in food processing, emphasizing value addition, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and the promotion of bilateral trade in agricultural and food products.

The minister also met with Pabitra Margherita, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, to discuss ongoing collaborative efforts aimed at improving the welfare and development of the Afghan populace.

The delegation further engaged with representatives from various organizations, including the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), International Potato Centre (CIP), International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).