Nine Asian rice-growing nations including China, India and Pakistan Tuesday signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in research and prepare a roadmap to boost production in the face of deteriorating soil conditions and other challenges.

The agreement, issued as the Delhi Declaration at the conclusion of the second international ministerial roundtable meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing International Rice Congress being hosted by New Delhi, underlines the concerns of Asian nations on poverty eradication, nutritional security and environmental conservation.

The Delhi Declaration endorsed by India, China, Pakistan, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, commits the nine nations to form a task force under the umbrella of the Manila-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) with representatives from all countries.