The BRICS Agriculture Conference kicked off in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday, bringing together representatives from 21 countries to discuss some of the most pressing challenges facing agriculture worldwide. India, which holds the BRICS presidency this year, is hosting the conference.

The first day was packed with activity. Agriculture Working Group meetings began early in the morning and continued well into the evening. These working group sessions are crucial as they set the agenda and lay the groundwork for the higher-level ministerial discussions that will follow later in the week.

The first session highlighted the growing impact of climate change on farmers around the world. Experts from member countries shared their perspectives on how changing weather patterns and natural disasters are hurting agricultural output and what steps can be taken to build more resilient farming systems.

The conference, running till June 13, will see wide-ranging discussions on food security, agricultural trade, climate-friendly farming practices and innovation in the agriculture sector. The idea is to build stronger cooperation among member nations and find common solutions to shared challenges.

The week will culminate in high-level ministerial meetings. On June 12, agriculture ministers will hold a special dialogue focused on digital technology, smart farming and climate-adaptive agriculture. On June 13, the main ministerial meeting will take place, where ministers will review the outcomes of the entire conference and finalise a joint declaration outlining agreed commitments and the way forward.

As a symbol of the conference’s commitment to a greener future, member country representatives will also plant saplings together at the specially created BRICS Vatika.