India reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive, equitable and sustainable agriculture at the 15th meeting of BRICS Agriculture Ministers.

Speaking at the meeting in Brazil yesterday, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said global food security goals would remain unfulfilled unless small farmers are protected and empowered. He underscored that for India, empowering women socially, economically and politically is a mission.

Mr Chouhan also emphasised the need to place the welfare of small and marginal farmers at the centre of global agricultural strategies. He highlighted that agriculture, for India, is not merely an economic activity, but a source of livelihood, food, and dignity for millions of families.

He said that the world’s 510 million smallholder farmers are the backbone of the global food system and are also the most vulnerable in the face of climate change, price volatility, and resource scarcity.
The meeting underlined the need to make agricultural trade fair, control global price volatility, and ensure remunerative prices for small farmers.

During the meeting, BRICS Agriculture Ministers launched the BRICS Land Restoration Partnership to address land degradation, desertification, and the loss of soil fertility.

In the Joint Declaration, BRICS nations collectively reiterated their resolve to make the global agri-food system fair, inclusive, innovative, and sustainable.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chouhan also invited BRICS nations to participate in the World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit beginning May 1 this year and the World Food India to be held in September 2025.