India and Fiji discuss expanding cooperation in agricultural and food security.

New Delhi, January 9, 2026: India’s Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, held a bilateral meeting with Tomasi Tunabuna, Minister for Agriculture and Waterways of Fiji, at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, on Friday.

 The meeting focused on reviewing ongoing cooperation and identifying new avenues for strengthening bilateral collaboration in agriculture and allied sectors.

India has a historic tie with Fiji:

During the discussions, Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted India’s historical and close ties with Fiji, rooted in mutual respect, cooperation, and strong cultural and people-to-people connections.

 He underscored that both nations recognize agriculture and food security as priority areas for bilateral engagement, given their importance for livelihoods and sustainable development.

The two Ministers held wide-ranging and productive discussions on issues of mutual interest.

It was agreed to extend the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation for a further five years.

India and Fiji decided to form JWG:

The two sides also decided to establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) to provide an institutional mechanism for advancing and monitoring cooperation.

Key areas of collaboration discussed included student exchanges, training and capacity-building programs, and technology sharing, particularly in small-scale agricultural machinery and digital agriculture tools.

The Ministers also deliberated on strengthening research infrastructure, promoting genetic exchange initiatives, and enhancing knowledge sharing on reducing food loss and waste.

The Fijian delegation included Tomasi Tunabuna, Minister for Agriculture and Waterways; Charan Jeath Singh, Minister for Multi-Ethnic affairs, the Sugar Industry; H. e. Jagannath Sami, High Commissioner of Fiji to India; Dr. Vinesh Kumar, Permanent Secretary, Minister of Sugar; Nitya Reddy, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Fiji Sugar Corporation; and Paulo Daurewa, Counsellor at the High Commission of Fiji.

The Indian side was represented by Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; M. L. Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), along with other senior officials.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation in agriculture, strengthen institutional linkages, and work together towards a sustainable food system and farmer prosperity.

Also Read: Shivraj Singh Chouhan lauds Bihar’s rural development and announced 15 Lakh new homes for the poor.

EOM.