Union agriculture and farmers welfare minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (IANS)

NEW DELHI: India and Russia have agreed to deepen cooperation in agricultural trade, fertilisers, seeds, market access and joint research, reaffirming their commitment to advance innovation and benefit farme-rs. Bilateral agricultural trade stands at about $3.5 billion.Both sides outlined future areas of cooperation at a meeting between Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Russia’s agriculture minister Oxana Lut on the sidelines of India-Russia annual summit Thursday. An MoU between Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Federal Center for Animal Health of Russia was signed.“To increase trade in agriculture commodities, both sides explored possibilities of export from India in foodgrain and horticulture products,” said an agriculture ministry statement. Chouhan emphasised need for more balanced trade and appreciated Russia’s efforts to resolve issues on export of Indian potatoes, pomegranates and seeds. He invited the Russian side to participate in the BRICS agriculture ministers’ meeting next year.