India Announces Initiative to Adopt Israeli Agrotech to Protect Environment, Lower Costs
by Lea Speyer
India announced Wednesday a new initiative to utilize Israeli water and agriculture technology to conserve the environment while lowering production costs, the Business Standard reported.
“Israel’s agriculture technology is known to the entire world. Israel, where water scarcity looms large, has emerged as one of the major producers of fruit and vegetables,” said Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh in a speech he delivered at the Center for Sub-Tropical Fruit, a joint Israeli-Indian venture.
Visiting the center with Singh was Israeli Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel, who is in the country to attend India Water Week 2016. “We are committed to our understandings with India (in the fields of agriculture and water management),” Ariel was quoted as saying following Singh’s speech.
The Israeli minister’s remarks echo similar assurances he made during his speech to inaugurate India Water Week on Monday. “Israel attributes the utmost importance and consideration to the widening cooperation with India…to furthering our continued cooperation for the well-being of both nations,” Ariel said. “Be rest assured that Israeli government and its business sector of water and agro technologies alike will be reliable partners to India in its struggle for sufficient water supply and for food security.”
Israel currently operates 13 agricultural demonstration farms, known as Centers of Excellence, in India. In March, Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture announced plans to more than double that number to 28 in the next few years.