Israel, India to expand agricultural ties

Israel and India have taken another step towards widening their bilateral cooperation in the field agriculture, as Jerusalem and New Delhi have announced launching the second phase of a three-year agriculture work plan. The first phase of the plan was successfully implemented between 2008 and 2010 in Haryana, in northern India, and Maharashtra, in the country's southwest, as part of New Delhi's National Horticulture Mission (NHM). "Good progress was achieved during implementation of action plan from January 2008 to December 2010. "A number of technologies in horticulture mechanization, protected cultivation, orchard and canopy management, nursery management, micro-irrigation and PHM were achieved through visit of Israeli experts in Haryana and Maharashtra," Jyotiraditya M. Scindia of India's State for Commerce and Industry Ministry was quoted as saying by the Indian news agency. "During the first phase of the plan, elite planting material and varieties of fruits and machinery was also imported from Israel. The experts from Israel trained the officers and farmers from these states during first phase of implementation and large number of officers were trained in Israel during this period," Scindia added. According to the report, both governments are planning to create a fund dedicated to future agricultural collaborations. Agriculture Minister Orit Noked confirmed that a fund is in the works, adding that each party will be contributing $25 million to it. The second phase of the plan will see Israel and India work on 20 agriculture and water-related projects by creating centers of excellence across India. The first center will be set up in Sirsa and will focus on fruit research. Bilateral trade between India and Israel stood at $5.2 billion for 2010-2011 with exports at $3 billion and imports at $2.2 billion. According to the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, India’s major exports to Israel include precious stones, metals, chemical products, textile and textile articles while imports comprise chemicals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and transport equipment. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter