NEW DELHI, May 12 (UPI) -- India and Israel have signed a three-year pact for cooperation in the agricultural sector, leading to a breakthrough in bilateral ties.
"The agreement was signed between Indian Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and his Israeli counterpart, Shalom Simhon," said a press release issued by the Indian Agriculture Ministry.
The agreement, the statement said, focused on the development of agri-business projects; collaborative research and development; academic and farmer-level exchanges; and cooperation in gene bank resources.
"Israel will transfer technologies and techniques relating to post-harvest management and value addition for fruits, vegetables and dairy products; energy efficient and cost-effective greenhouse structures; development of the dairy sector; and water management, including recycling of domestic waste water for irrigation," the ministry said.
It said the collaborative research will include the development of crop-specific irrigation and fertigation schedules for Indian produce. The two countries also plan to set up a joint research and development fund, offering seed money for joint projects promoting agricultural innovation.
"The agreement also includes attention to extension service systems -- providing the individual farmer with real-time solutions and access to agricultural know-how and research and development -- an area well developed in Israel," the ministry said.
Indian Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar last visited Israel in November 2005, as a special envoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the memorial service held for the late Israeli Premier Yitzhak Rabin.
