India, Argentina deepen partnerships on oilseeds, pulses, plant-animal health under ICAR-INTA agreement

Marking a significant step forward to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agricultural research, capacity building, and technology exchange, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Argentina, have signed a Work Plan 2025-2027.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the India–Argentina scientific partnership and agreed to annual monitoring and review to ensure effective implementation and progress.

Dr M L Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, ICAR, and Mariano Augustin Caucino, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to India, exchanged the signed ICAR–INTA Work Plan on Wednesday, according to an Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry statement.

India and Argentina are also deepening cooperation in oilseed and pulse value chains, agricultural mechanisation—including zero-tillage, cotton harvesting machinery, and drones—and horticulture value chain development, including infrastructure and planting material exchange.

In plant and animal health, it envisages region-specific Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) elimination strategies and enhanced collaboration on locust surveillance and management through technical exchanges and best-practice sharing.

The Work Plan establishes collaboration across natural resource management, sustainable agronomy, including zero tillage, mechanisation, micro-irrigation and fertigation, crop and animal biotechnology, livestock improvement, production technologies for temperate and tropical crops, digital agriculture, biosafety and phytosanitary measures, and value chain development.

Implementation will be through joint research, germplasm exchange, expert engagements, and structured training and study visits. Planned study visits and training programme cover greenhouse vegetable production, floriculture and temperate fruits, among others. Germplasm exchange will include soybean, sunflower, maize, blueberry, citrus, wild papaya species, guava, and select vegetable crops, the statement added.

This article has been republished from The Statesman.