India, June 13 -- Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday called upon BRICS nations to work together to empower small and marginal cultivators, ensure food security and promote sustainable agricultural development.

He stressed that challenges confronting the agriculture sector, including climate change and growing pressure on natural resources, could be effectively addressed only through collective efforts.

Chouhan was chairing the inaugural session of a two-day meeting of agriculture ministers of BRICS countries in Indore.

He also led the ministerial dialogue on the theme "Smallholder Farmers, Women and Youth: Securing the Future of Food". "If small farmers become stronger, global food security w...