Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches ASEAN-India Fellowship for Higher Education in Agriculture

Shri Chouhan lauded the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for its pivotal role in enhancing the quality of agricultural education in India.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the ASEAN-India Fellowship for Higher Education in Agriculture and Allied Sciences at ICAR, PUSA, New Delhi, today. The launch event was attended by Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary and Shri Ram Nath Thakur.

Shri Chouhan lauded the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for its pivotal role in enhancing the quality of agricultural education in India. He highlighted ICAR’s efforts in setting standards and policies that promote sustainable development in agriculture. Currently, around 135 international students are enrolled in agricultural universities across India.

The ASEAN-India fellowship aims to support postgraduate studies in emerging fields of agriculture and allied sciences. Indian faculty members will have the opportunity to visit ASEAN member countries to support capacity-building efforts, fostering the development of expert human resources in ASEAN. This initiative is designed to strengthen research collaborations and deepen understanding of agriculture-related issues between ASEAN countries and India.

Mr. Josel F Ignacio, Ambassador of the Philippines to India and India’s ASEAN Country Coordinator, underscored the program’s role in creating a pool of skilled professionals for agricultural advancement in ASEAN. He praised the fellowship for embodying the spirit of collaboration and mutual growth.

Shri Sanjay Garg, Additional Secretary (DARE) and Secretary (ICAR), discussed ICAR’s contributions to addressing food security challenges faced by ASEAN countries and emphasized the importance of ASEAN-India collaboration in agricultural development. Ms. Alka Nangia Arora, Additional Secretary (DARE) & Financial Advisor (ICAR), and Ms. Paramita Tripathi, Joint Secretary, Oceania & Indo-Pacific, Ministry of External Affairs, were also present.

The program will award 50 fellowships (10 per year) starting from the academic year 2024-25. Funded by the ASEAN-India Fund for five years, the fellowships will cover tuition, living expenses, and other costs, facilitating quality research-based education for students from ASEAN member countries. This initiative aims to foster intercultural exchanges and strengthen ties between India and the ASEAN community through academic collaboration.