On 21 October 2020, the agriculture ministers of the SCO member states held their 5th meeting via videoconference.
The event was attended by India's Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala; Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan Saparkhan Omarov; China's Vice Minister of Agriculture Zhang Taolin; Minister of Agriculture, Food Industry and Land Reclamation of the Kyrgyz Republic Erkinbek Choduyev; Pakistani Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam; Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Dmitry Patrushev; Minister of Agriculture of Tajikistan Amonullo Faizullo Salimzoda; Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodzhaev; SCO Deputy Secretary General Sherali Saidamir Jonon; and Assistant Director General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia Vladimir Rakhmanin.
During the meeting, the heads of delegations exchanged views on the impact of the novel coronavirus infection on agriculture, and discussed measures taken by countries to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic. They noted that standing up to this global challenge required joint coordinated efforts.
The participants commended the cooperation between the SCO member states in agriculture and shared their proposals on potentially rewarding tracks of cooperation.
Those present approved the 2021̶ 2025 Action Plan to implement the SCO Agreement on Cooperation in Agriculture, signed on 11 June 2010 in Tashkent. Under the document, the parties agreed to develop cooperation in agriculture in various promising areas, including expanding trade in agricultural produce and food, attracting investment to the agro-industrial sector, upholding food security, conducting joint scientific research and academic exchanges, introducing innovations, and holding more farming exhibitions and fairs.
The ministers also approved the Plan for the implementation of the SCO Cooperation Programme on Food Security signed on 12 October 2018 in Dushanbe. In accordance with the Plan, SCO countries are to develop a common approach to food security, to maintain a voluntary exchange of information on the food security situation, and to conduct joint themed events on food security, including some to exchange experience and promote professional growth.
The officials supported the initiative proposed by the Chinese side to set up the SCO Demonstration Base for exchange and training in agricultural technologies.
The proposal implies developing the platform for the development and implementation of agricultural technologies established at the Yangling Agricultural Hi-Tech Industries Demonstration Zone in Yangling District, Shaanxi, China.
The heads of delegations also heard reports from the SCO Secretariat on the Joint Action Plan of the Secretariat of the SCO and the UN FAO for 2020 ̶ 2023.
The event was held in a business-like and constructive atmosphere of mutual trust, friendship and cooperation.