India and Indonesia strengthen sustainable farming cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to increase agricultural cooperation with Indonesia through the development of sustainable farming to strengthen the food security of both nations. “We will also supply wheat seeds developed in India, and Indonesia’s food security will be further strengthened. We will also share best practices in sustainable farming and agro-technology with each other,” Modi said during a bilateral meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday. This cooperation was a key focus of the bilateral meeting between the Indonesian and Indian delegations, led directly by the two national leaders. India is currently the world’s largest producer of milk and pulses. The country, with a population of approximately 1.47 billion, is also the second-largest producer of rice, wheat, groundnuts, cotton, and sugarcane. The Indian government is committed to sharing its experience, research results, and agricultural technology developed in recent years. Various innovations being applied include smart farming based on artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), drones, and sensors to monitor crops and improve irrigation efficiency. Additionally, start-ups in India are developing autonomous tractors that can be operated via smartphone applications to support agricultural automation. According to Modi, support for start-ups and financing in the agrotechnology sector has encouraged more young people to return to managing farmland with a more modern and productive approach.