BRICS Indore Declaration adopted keeping farmer at centre: Agri Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

📌 Summary:

• The "BRICS Indore Declaration" was unanimously adopted (June 14) at the BRICS Agriculture Ministers and officials meeting in Indore, with the farmer placed at its centre
• Four priority areas: (1) food security and nutrition; (2) promotion of agricultural trade and cooperation among BRICS nations; (3) regenerative and climate-resilient sustainable farming; (4) innovation, technology and partnerships in food systems
• Four institutional initiatives proposed: BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture (joint research, capacity building on natural/organic farming)
• BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture — cooperation on AI, geospatial technology, digital public infrastructure and data-based farm solutions
• Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems — to protect farmers' seed rights, indigenous seed diversity and traditional knowledge (balancing hybrid varieties with conservation of native seeds)
• BRICS AgriN (Agro Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network) — to strengthen cooperation on agri-inputs, seeds and genetic resources

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 IR + GS3 Agriculture — plurilateral cooperation through BRICS; food security, climate-resilient agriculture and farmers' seed rights.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• BRICS Agriculture Ministers meeting held in Indore; declaration named "BRICS Indore Declaration"
• New bodies: BRICS Network of CoE on Agro-Ecology, BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture, Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems, BRICS AgriN
• BRICS Cultural Track ministerial meeting scheduled in Bhopal (August)

🔑 Key Term: Regenerative Agriculture — farming practices that restore soil health, biodiversity and ecosystems while remaining productive and climate-resilient.