Fiji and India have taken steps to deepen cooperation across agriculture, sugar, livestock and rural development, following high-level talks in New Delhi.
Fiji’s Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Tomasi Tunabuna, met India’s Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a stronger bilateral partnership.
During the meeting, Minister Tunabuna conveyed greetings from the Government of Fiji and the Fijian people, including best wishes from the Prime Minister, and acknowledged the long-standing friendship between Fiji and India grounded in shared history, people-to-people links and expanding development cooperation.
Minister Tunabuna outlined Fiji’s push to transform its agricultural sector into a modern, climate-resilient and technology-driven agri-industrial economy. He highlighted priorities such as digital and smart agriculture, drone technology, nano-fertilisers, smart irrigation systems, agro-processing, livestock and dairy development, sugar industry modernisation and circular bio-economy solutions.
“India’s experience in advanced agricultural technologies, integrated value chains and farmer-centred innovation closely aligns with Fiji’s development ambitions,” Minister Tunabuna said.
Fiji also signalled interest in practical partnerships covering digital farm and livestock registries, value-added processing, sugar bio-industries, food waste management and the use of agricultural by-products for animal feed.
Both ministers discussed opportunities for capacity building, technical collaboration and joint research, agreeing to explore the creation of a Fiji–India Agriculture, Sugar, Livestock and Bio-Industries Working Group. The proposal would support pilot projects and a multi-year cooperation framework.
The talks reaffirmed the strength of the Fiji–India relationship and a shared focus on delivering sustainable outcomes for farmers, rural communities and national food security. Minister Tunabuna also welcomed confirmation from Indian counterparts that the existing Memorandum of Understanding would be extended for a further five years from June.
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