ICAR signs MoU with Agriculture Department of Seychelles to strengthen agri-research cooperation
New Delhi, July 1
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Agriculture Department, Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Blue Economy, Republic of Seychelles, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agricultural research and education, an official statement said on Wednesday.
The MoU was also signed to boost capacity building and technology transfer between the two countries in these areas, it said.
The agreement was signed during the official visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Republic of Seychelles.
The MoU provides a framework for promoting joint research programmes, exchange of scientists, researchers and students, and sharing of advanced agricultural technologies and best practices.
To operationalise the agreement, both sides also signed a five-year Work Plan (2026-2031), which focuses on key areas including climate-smart agriculture, horticulture, post-harvest management, livestock development and sustainable food and nutritional security.
The collaboration aims to strengthen institutional linkages, improve agricultural productivity, build technical capacity, and support sustainable agricultural development while addressing emerging challenges such as climate change and food security.
With more than 100 Memoranda of Understanding signed with partner institutions across the world, ICAR continues to expand India's global agricultural partnerships, the statement from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said.
The MoU with Seychelles further reinforces India's engagement with the Global South and its commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture, innovation and global food and nutritional security through international cooperation, the statement noted.
India and Seychelles earlier this week signed agreements to strengthen bilateral ties across trade, digital technology and agriculture following talks between PM Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie.
The two countries agreed on several major initiatives, including the umbrella line of credit agreement for Rs 1,250 crore between the Export-Import Bank of India and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment of Seychelles, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is nice and all, but I hope it's not just another MoU signing ceremony with no follow-through. We have so many such agreements that remain on paper. The five-year work plan sounds promising—focus on climate-smart agriculture and horticulture could really help both sides. But implementation is key. Let's see how many scientists actually get exchanged and how much real technology transfer happens. Otherwise it's just a photo op.
As someone who works in international development, this is a smart move. Seychelles has unique challenges—limited arable land, vulnerability to climate change, and high food import dependency. India's expertise in sustainable intensification and livestock development fits perfectly. The ₹1,250 crore line of credit also shows serious financial commitment. Well played, India. This is what South-South cooperation should look like.
I'm an Indian farmer and I have mixed feelings. On one hand, it's good that ICAR is globally recognized. But on the ground, our own farmers are struggling with climate change, rising input costs, and market access. Before exporting our expertise, shouldn't we first ensure our own agricultural universities are well-funded and extension services reach the last mile? Otherwise it feels like we're showing off a luxury car while our own village roads are broken.
A Arya P (added from list by expanding context) Wonderful initiative! Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and sharing our knowledge with smaller nations is exactly what we should be doing. The focus on post-harvest management is particularly important for Seychelles—they lose so much produce due to inadequate storage. Our cold chain technology could be a game-changer for them. And it's a two-way street: we can learn from their experience in sustainable tourism-linked agriculture. 🙏 We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.