NEW DELHI, Sep 10: India and ASEAN countries are stepping up cooperation in agriculture with a strong focus on technology, innovation and sustainable farming, a move that could create new opportunities for agri-tech businesses while helping farmers improve productivity and incomes.
The 9th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry, held in New Delhi, placed technology-driven agriculture at the centre of the partnership. The countries identified artificial intelligence, digital farming, climate-resilient agriculture, soil health, water efficiency, food safety and better post-harvest management as key areas for cooperation.
The shift towards technology has an important business dimension. Greater use of AI, digital platforms, satellite-based monitoring, precision farming and modern farm-management systems can create demand for new agricultural services and solutions. It can also help companies develop technologies that can be scaled across India and ASEAN markets.
For farmers, the benefits could include better crop planning, more efficient use of water and fertilisers, early identification of crop and livestock diseases and improved access to market information. These improvements can reduce costs, limit crop losses and increase farm productivity.
India already has a growing digital agriculture ecosystem. The government’s e-NAM platform, for example, had connected 1,656 mandis across 23 states and four Union Territories by March 2026, with more than 1.8 crore farmers registered. Such digital systems show how technology can improve market access, price discovery and agricultural trade.
The India-ASEAN partnership could take this cooperation further through joint research, technology transfer, capacity building and farmer exchanges. This can open opportunities for startups, technology developers, equipment manufacturers, food-processing companies and logistics providers.
The focus on resilient agricultural value chains is also important for businesses. Better storage, processing, transportation and market connectivity can reduce wastage and improve the movement of agricultural products from farms to consumers and export markets.
India and ASEAN are also looking at areas such as low-emission rice, circular bioeconomy, agroforestry and climate-smart farming. These areas could encourage investment in sustainable technologies and create new markets around resource-efficient agriculture. Existing ASEAN-India cooperation frameworks also emphasise investment, R&D, agricultural technology and innovation.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for ASEAN delegates to interact with Indian scientists, researchers and industry representatives. The engagement can help connect research with commercial applications and accelerate the movement of agricultural innovations from laboratories to farms.
The visiting delegation toured the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Pusa, where it saw work in protected cultivation, crop research, plant phenomics and conservation of plant genetic resources. An exhibition also showcased Indian technologies in soil management, digital agriculture, animal science, fisheries and horticulture.
From an economic perspective, stronger India-ASEAN agricultural cooperation can help build more productive farms, technology-led businesses and stronger regional supply chains. It can also support agricultural exports by improving quality, productivity and market connectivity.
The partnership therefore goes beyond food security. By combining India’s agricultural research and digital capabilities with ASEAN’s regional markets, the cooperation has the potential to support investment, innovation, rural employment, agri-business growth and a more competitive agricultural economy.
The next ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry is scheduled to be held in 2028.
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