Bill Gates Talks Rural Development with Minister Shivraj Chouhan

On Monday, Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, met with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to discuss topics such as agriculture and rural development.

"Bill Foundation is already working with the Government of India in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and today again we have discussed which areas can we work together in," Chouhan said in a statement after the meeting.

Chouhan told Gates that India is focused on producing crop varieties that are climate resilient and bio-fortified to ensure food security in the future.

"Gates Foundation is working with ICAR, there is scope for more technical collaboration in this area," the minister said.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has developed over 2,900 crop varieties, 85 percent of which are climate resilient and 179 biofortified.

Gates commended the agricultural research system in India, stating that it could bring benefits to the whole world.

The minister added that there are vast opportunities to strengthen the partnership between India and the Gates Foundation, especially in the sectors of digital agriculture, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and climate-friendly farming methods.

Chouhan commended the Gates Foundation's partnership with the Ministry of Rural Development and Agriculture, noting that the partnership played a key role in improving the Model Cluster Level Federation.

A number of officials attended the meeting including Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, Rural Development Secretary Shailesh Singh, officials from both ministries and ICAR, and representatives of the Gates Foundation, Hari Menon and Alkesh Advani.