India Steers BRICS Towards Climate-Smart Farming as Historic Indore Declaration Puts Farmers at Centre Stage
Indore/NewDelhi, June 13: In a significant move that could reshape the future of global agriculture amid mounting climate change challenges, BRICS nations on Friday unanimously adopted the historic Indore Declaration, placing farmers, food security, climate resilience and agricultural innovation at the heart of the bloc's future agenda.
The landmark declaration, adopted during the BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting chaired by India under its BRICS Presidency, signals a new phase of international agricultural cooperation at a time when climate extremes, food insecurity and supply chain disruptions are threatening farming systems worldwide.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the declaration as "a message of hope, trust and collective responsibility" from nations that collectively account for nearly half of the world's population, 42 per cent of global agricultural land and around 42 per cent of world foodgrain production.
Farmers at the Core of Global Policy
Unlike traditional diplomatic declarations that focus largely on trade and production, the Indore Declaration puts farmers at the centre of decision-making. It commits BRICS nations to strengthening food and nutritional security, enhancing farmer livelihoods, promoting climate-resilient agriculture, accelerating innovation and ensuring sustainable agricultural growth.
Special attention was given to small and marginal farmers, who continue to bear the brunt of climate shocks, rising input costs and market uncertainties across developing economies.
Four New Global Agriculture Platforms
The meeting also announced four major institutional initiatives that are expected to drive agricultural cooperation among BRICS nations in the coming years.
A BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture will promote research and capacity-building in natural, organic and regenerative farming systems. India's role in the initiative will be anchored by the Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram.
A second initiative, the BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture, will focus on artificial intelligence, geospatial technologies, digital public infrastructure and data-driven farming solutions. Coordinated by IIT Delhi, the network aims to ensure that technological innovations directly benefit farmers on the ground.
The third initiative, the Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems, seeks to protect traditional seed varieties, conserve biodiversity and safeguard indigenous agricultural knowledge that is increasingly under threat from climate change and commercial pressures.
The fourth platform, BRICS AgriN (Agro Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network), will facilitate the sharing of seeds, genetic resources, agricultural technologies and best practices among member countries.
Climate Crisis Drives New Agriculture Consensus
The Indore meeting was dominated by concerns over climate change, extreme weather events and the growing threat posed by phenomena such as El Niño.
Recognising that agriculture remains one of the sectors most vulnerable to climate disruption, BRICS nations committed themselves to promoting regenerative farming, climate-smart technologies and sustainable land-use practices.
The declaration also stresses reducing post-harvest losses, cutting food wastage and encouraging carbon-conscious farming systems that can help lower greenhouse gas emissions while improving farm incomes.
Observers say the consensus reflects a growing recognition that future food security cannot be achieved without adapting agriculture to a warming planet.
From Research Labs to Farmers' Fields
A key outcome of the meeting was the decision to strengthen the existing BRICS Agricultural Research Platform and transform it into a "Knowledge-to-Action Hub."
The objective is to accelerate the transfer of scientific innovations from laboratories to farms, ensuring that new technologies, climate-resilient crop varieties and sustainable farming practices reach farmers more quickly.
The initiative aligns with India's long-standing "Lab to Land" approach aimed at bridging the gap between agricultural research and field-level adoption.
Trade, Technology and Farmer Welfare
The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to a fair and transparent global agricultural trading system. Discussions gained momentum around proposals such as a BRICS Grain Exchange that could strengthen food trade cooperation among member nations.
India highlighted its efforts to shield farmers from rising global fertilizer prices by continuing subsidies that keep urea and DAP affordable.
The meeting also focused on expanding access to farm machinery through Custom Hiring Centres, enabling small farmers to use drones and modern agricultural equipment without heavy investments.
India Emerges as Voice of the Global South
The adoption of the Indore Declaration is being viewed as a major diplomatic achievement for India during its BRICS Presidency under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
By successfully forging consensus among diverse economies, India has positioned itself as a leading voice for farmer-centric development, sustainable agriculture and food security in the Global South.
As climate change increasingly threatens agricultural production across continents, the Indore Declaration may well be remembered as the moment when BRICS nations collectively decided to place farmers—not merely food production—at the centre of the global agricultural agenda.
