9th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AIMMAF)

The 9th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AIMMAF) took place in New Delhi on September 9, 2026, bringing together agriculture leaders from India and ASEAN nations to strengthen farm-sector cooperation and chart out shared priorities for the years ahead.

9th AIMMAF Meeting Overview

• Date and location: Held in New Delhi on September 9, 2026
• Co-chairs: The Philippines' Secretary of Agriculture Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, and India's Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Participants: Agriculture ministers and representatives from ASEAN member nations and India
• Aim: To build a more food-secure, sustainable, and resilient agricultural future by deepening the ASEAN-India comprehensive strategic partnership, with a clear focus on farmer-centred, practical cooperation

Two Important Frameworks Discussed Under the 9th AIMMAF

During the meeting, both sides welcomed two important frameworks, 'ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future' and the 'ASEAN Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sectoral Plan 2026-2030' as guiding documents for sustainable growth in the region. Ministers also looked ahead to rolling out the 'ASEAN-India Medium-Term Plan of Action for Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry 2026-2030', which covers policy dialogue, digital innovation, joint research, capacity building, and farmer exchange programmes.

Key Focus Areas of 9th AIMMAF

The meeting zeroed in on several practical, scalable areas where India and ASEAN can work together:

• Climate-resilient agriculture and low-emission rice cultivation
• Water productivity and soil health management
• AI-enabled digital agriculture tools
• Food safety and post-harvest management practices
• Circular bioeconomy and agroforestry models
• Building stronger, more resilient agricultural value chains

Ministers also pushed for closer coordination between research institutions, technology developers, extension agencies, the private sector, and farmers themselves, to help new agricultural innovations reach the ground faster. Alongside this, the meeting highlighted the need to improve market connectivity, add value to agricultural produce, and strengthen logistics across the region.

Both sides acknowledged growing challenges ahead, including climate change, extreme weather events, geopolitical and economic instability, volatile input markets, trade disruptions, and the spread of transboundary pests and diseases. The meeting concluded with an agreement to hold the 10th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry in 2028