New Delhi, April 19 -- April 19:There is an urgent need to place the welfare of small and marginal farmers at the centre of global agricultural strategies, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said, adding that agriculture for India is not merely an economic activity, but a source of livelihood, food and dignity for millions of families.

At the 15th meeting of BRICS Agriculture Ministers in Brazil's Brasilia, India reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive, equitable, and sustainable agriculture, an official statement said on Friday. Agriculture Minister Chouhan underscored that global food security and rural development goals would remain incomplete unless small farmers are protected and empowered.

He highlighted that the...