21st April 2025, New Delhi
A high-level delegation from Bhutan, led by Dasho Thimley Namgyel, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Forests, visited the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi, to explore avenues for collaboration in agricultural research and development.
Dr. C. Viswanathan, Joint Director (Research), ICAR-IARI, provided an overview of the institute's pioneering role in India’s Green Revolution and its significant contributions to the development of high-yielding crop varieties, advanced agronomic practices, and innovative technologies.
During an interactive session, both sides discussed shared agricultural interests and potential areas of cooperation. Mr. Namgyel highlighted Bhutan’s key agricultural challenges, including small landholdings, labour shortages, post-harvest losses, rural-to-urban migration, and the impacts of climate change. He also emphasized Bhutan's heavy reliance on agricultural imports from India and its keen interest in strengthening bilateral ties in the sector.
To formalize future collaboration, Dr. Viswanathan proposed signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICAR and the Government of Bhutan.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured the institute’s premier research and demonstration facilities, including the Nanaji Deshmukh National Plant Phenomics Facility, the Integrated Farming System (IFS) Model, and the Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology (CPCT). These visits provided valuable insights into the institute’s cutting-edge research, sustainable agricultural technologies, and farmer-centric innovations.
The visit marked a significant step toward fostering deeper India-Bhutan cooperation in agriculture and advancing shared goals in sustainable food systems and research exchange.
(Source: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi)
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