ICAR & INTA Argentina Sign Work Plan 2025–2027 To Boost Agricultural Cooperation

New Delhi, Dec 17 (KNN) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Argentina, have signed the Work Plan 2025–2027 to enhance bilateral cooperation in agricultural research, capacity building, and technology exchange. 

Scope of Collaboration

The Work Plan sets out a framework for joint initiatives across several key domains. 

In natural resource management and sustainable agronomy, it focuses on practices such as zero tillage, mechanisation, micro-irrigation, and fertigation. Crop and animal biotechnology initiatives aim at livestock improvement and advancing production technologies for both temperate and tropical crops. 

Efforts in digital agriculture and value chain development include implementing precision farming tools along with biosafety and phytosanitary measures. Capacity-building measures encompass training programmes, expert exchanges, and study visits to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practices.

Research, Training, and Germplasm Exchange

The collaboration will be implemented through joint research projects, structured study visits, and germplasm exchange. 

Planned activities encompass greenhouse vegetable production, floriculture, and temperate fruit cultivation, as well as post-harvest physiology and functional food development. 

In the livestock sector, efforts will focus on veterinary diagnostics, precision farming, and microbial feed enhancement, while digital agriculture applications and sanitary and phytosanitary systems will also be advanced. 

Germplasm exchange will target crops such as soybean, sunflower, maize, blueberry, citrus, wild papaya species, guava, and selected vegetables, promoting crop diversification and resilience.

Value Chain and Mechanisation Cooperation

The partnership also seeks to strengthen oilseeds and pulses value chains by enhancing productivity and processing efficiency, and to advance agricultural mechanisation through initiatives such as zero-tillage, cotton harvesting machinery, and drone applications. 

Horticulture development will be supported through infrastructure improvements and the exchange of high-quality planting material. 

In plant and animal health, the collaboration will focus on region-specific strategies for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) elimination and locust surveillance and management, leveraging technical exchanges and shared best practices.

(KNN Bureau)