India at SIAL Paris 2026: Small Farmers, Women and Drones Shine

Ashraf described a move towards sustainable, climate-resilient farming, with less chemical use and better traceability. Drones, sensors, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are helping farmers manage water, fertilisers and crop protection more efficiently, an increasingly important advantage as extreme weather threatens food production.

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India at SIAL Paris 2026: Small Farmers, Women and Drones Shine

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India already produces grains, fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat and seafood for roughly one-sixth of humanity. Ashraf sees this capacity, combined with greener methods, as part of the world’s food security answer.

Women at the Heart of the Story

With the United Nations declaring 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer, India highlighted the role of women in its farm sector. Many farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) in India are founded and run by women, helping raise household incomes and giving women greater independence and influence.

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Meet Priyanka Mohite, the Drone Pilot

One of those women travelled all the way to Paris. Priyanka Rhushikesh Mohite from Nashik, Maharashtra, is a certified agricultural drone pilot. Her drone sprays nano fertilisers and spreads seeds.

The difference, she explained, is huge. Covering an acre once took a full day and about 200 litres of water. With a drone, it now takes just seven to eight minutes and around 10 litres. That means big savings in time, water and labour for farmers.

Premium Indian Foods on Display

At SIAL, India focused on packaged, ready-to-eat and premium foods, backed by traceability and geographical indication (GI) tags. Products such as Naga chilli and Mithila makhana, the edible seeds of the fox nut plant, showcased India’s unique regional flavours.

Eyeing Europe

ITPO is considering opening offices in European cities such as Frankfurt, Paris, Milan and Rotterdam. The EU-India free trade agreement, concluded in January 2026, is expected to be signed by the end of the year. It builds on India’s trade deals with the UK and the European Free Trade Association, which have already opened zero or reduced tariffs for Indian food products.

Ashraf believes farmers and MSMEs can benefit, provided they meet European market standards and connect with buyers.

Why It Matters

Stories like Priyanka’s show that India’s farm revolution is no longer just about producing more. It is about producing smarter, with women and technology leading the change.

What Comes Next

The real challenge, the report noted, is to spread such progress widely and build a stronger presence for Indian food producers in Europe.

With inputs from IANS.