Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, currently on an official visit to Nepal for the 3rd BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture (BAMM), visited the revered Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu with his family. Chouhan shared his spiritual experience and videos from the visit on social media platform X, stating that offering prayers at the temple brought him “new energy and inspiration.”
During his visit, Chouhan also planted Rudraksh and Harsingar saplings on the temple premises, underscoring a commitment to environmental values alongside spiritual engagement.
On the diplomatic front, Chouhan called on Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, engaging in discussions aimed at strengthening the historic, cultural, and people-to-people ties between India and Nepal. In a post on X, Chouhan described the interaction as a “substantial dialogue,” particularly in areas of agricultural cooperation and achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
Chouhan’s presence in Nepal marks India’s participation in the 3rd BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture, held in Kathmandu on April 9. In line with India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy, Chouhan emphasized regional cooperation on food security, farmer empowerment, and sustainable agricultural practices.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu confirmed that Chouhan conveyed greetings from Indian leadership and reaffirmed India’s commitment to deepening collaboration in agriculture with Nepal. The Minister also met with Nepal’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, where both sides reviewed bilateral progress and signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation.
The MoU encompasses diverse areas including crop production, agricultural trade, plant protection, post-harvest management, organic farming, micro-irrigation, and climate-resilient agriculture.
The visit, from April 8 to 10, strengthens the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Nepal, particularly in the field of agriculture—advancing both bilateral and regional partnerships through BIMSTEC’s growing platform.
