India and Ukraine convened the inaugural meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Agriculture on Wednesday, 19th June, 2025 through a virtual platform, marking a significant step towards deepening bilateral collaboration in agriculture and allied sectors.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India and Ms. Oksana Osmachko, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy & Food of Ukraine. Senior officials and representatives from key ministries and institutions of both countries participated in the dialogue.
During the session, Ajeet Kumar Sahu highlighted India’s robust agricultural ecosystem and its recent strides toward modernization and sustainability. He underscored various government-led initiatives such as the promotion of digital agriculture, climate-resilient practices, risk mitigation mechanisms & enhanced credit access for farmers. Notable schemes like the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds, National Food Security Mission–Pulses & electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) were discussed as key drivers of rural development and sectoral growth.
Oksana Osmachko reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to enhancing agricultural ties with India. She expressed strong interest in exploring collaborative opportunities in areas including food processing, mechanization, digital agriculture, genome editing, advanced plant breeding techniques, soil fertility management & soil mapping. She noted that both nations, with their rich agricultural expertise, are well-positioned to complement each other in boosting productivity, advancing technology & promoting farmers’ welfare.
The meeting facilitated meaningful discussions on a wide range of collaborative avenues such as horticulture development, technology transfer, knowledge exchange, capacity building, research partnerships & improving market access.
This first JWG meeting has laid the foundation for a long-term, strategic partnership between India and Ukraine in the agricultural domain, with a shared vision of innovation, resilience & mutual growth.