Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Nepal and India have agreed to formulate and implement a biennial action plan within the next three months to translate bilateral agricultural cooperation agreements into concrete outcomes, Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said on December 30. During the ninth meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Agriculture Working Group, in Kathmandu, the two sides also decided to advance cooperation between agricultural universities and research institutions of both countries, including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), by developing separate action plans, the ministry said in a statement.
The two sides further agreed to work together in the livestock, poultry, and fisheries sectors under a separate memorandum of understanding.
Agreements were also reached to improve logistical processes to ensure the smooth supply of chemical fertilisers, enhance cooperation in agricultural infrastructure development, and maintain regular dialogue between relevant agencies to resolve technical issues related to food quality and quarantine. The Indian side reiterated its intention to expand cooperation with Nepal in agricultural research, technology transfer, and infrastructure development in line with its “Neighbourhood First” policy.
Reviewing the achievements of bilateral cooperation, the Nepali side informed the Indian side that 92,766 doses of semen have so far been produced from 15 high-quality Murrah male buffaloes gifted by the Indian Government. Based on an agreement reached between the two sides during former Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to New Delhi in 2023, the Indian side provided those high-quality male buffaloes to Nepal to help improve native buffalo breeds.
Acknowledging the significant contribution of this support to Nepal’s livestock development and breed improvement, the Nepali side expressed its gratitude to the Indian government, the ministry said.