India and Israel can learn from each other in agriculture and allied sectors, where Indians are more dependent upon the traditional methods of farming, Israel has done tremendously well on agro-tech advancements despite the challenges it faces.
Both, president of India, Pranab Mukherjee and Israeli president Reuven Rivlin, shared their views on 12th CII Biennial Agro-tech summit at Chandigarh on Sunday (November 20).
“Israel has made a mark in agriculture through innovation, technology solutions and converting its knowledge into value addition. Israel has created water and food surplus by successfully using technology," said Pranab Mukherjee.
“There is much to learn from Israel, a country which has converted its disadvantages to advantages with courage, conviction and fortitude. I was a part of the decision making team in 1992 that entered into a partnership for defence equipment with Israel, and I am happy we can do so in the field of agriculture as well," he added.
Israeli president Reuven Rivlin, said, "We in Israel were concerned about homeland security but India taught us to think about food security. Building a home means being able to provide food for your family and that building a nation means to be able to produce and provide food for its people."
He said that Israel is impressed with frugal innovations of India.
“Indian and Israeli experts are placing solar panels on the roofs of trucks so that the solar energy can keep the food inside the trucks fresh and prevent food waste. When Israeli companies and Indian farmers create professional and financial networks to help the farmers keep growing their crops, they are doing magic together," added Rivlin.
Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh urged farmers not to burn the remaining of crops, which has been the major cause of smog in the northern India. “We are giving 40 per cent subsidy to the farmers on equipments to deal with this issue.”
He said that doubling the farmer’s income by 2022 could not be achieved by increasing minimum support price (MSP) of crops. They have to start innovation such as organic farming.
Forty seven companies from 13 countries with 140 exhibitors are participating in this fair and over 1 lakh farmers are expected to attend the event.
BW Reporters
Haider Ali Khan is an alumnus of IIMC. He holds a degree in English Journalism from the prestigious campus. His passion includes Aviation, Technology, Politics and Sports.
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