India, Russia Boost Agri Cooperation: Trade, Research & Farmer Welfare

• India and Russia held a bilateral meeting between their Agriculture Ministers to discuss existing and future agricultural cooperation.
• Russia removed long-standing issues for Indian potato, pomegranate, and seed exports, opening its market for Indian farmers.
• Discussions focused on increasing India's exports of food grains and horticultural products to Russia, leveraging demand for fruits, vegetables, and processed foods.
• An MoU was signed between ICAR and Russia's Federal Center for Animal Health for joint activities in animal health, biosecurity, research, and capacity building.
• India invited Russia to the upcoming BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting to foster collective solutions for agricultural challenges.

Why It Matters: New India-Russia agri-pact opens markets and research, directly aiding farmers.