Argentina extends assistance to boost India's agricultural productivity

NEW DELHI: Argentina (G-20 state and key Latin American country), within the strategic partnership with India, has decided to be a partner for the development of the agricultural sector in India and further cooperate in this sector through technological exchanges that can boost the productivity.

Argentinian Agriculture Minister Luis Etchevehere visited India last week to further this agenda.

Etchevehere, met with his counterpart, Minister of Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar. A review was made of the agreements signed during the State Visit of President of Argentina Mauricio Macri to India on this February. It was agreed that progress must be made towards the conclusion of the protocols for market access of agricultural products.


The Indian government officially announced that it has granted market access to lemons and chia seeds from Argentina after the agreement reached by President Macri and PM Modi last February. This announcement takes place after 13 years of bilateral negotiations.

It was also announced that Argentina is designating for the first time an Agricultural Attaché to India, who is expected to arrive at the beginning of September.

Argentina with its decades old expertise in agriculture and related matters can be an important partner for modernisation of India's agriculture sector. It is one of the world's leading exporters of agricultural produce. Argentina has a reported 3,061,965 hectares of certified organic production land and it is second only to Australia and is followed by United States.

Etchevehre also held meetings with the Ministers of Food Processing, Animal Husbandry and Commerce. With Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal, discussions centered on the need to increase the volume of bilateral trade and to make progress in the negotiations between MERCOSUR and India.