Narendra Modi To Visit Israel: What’s On Cards For Agriculture Cooperation
Prior to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel, which is due to happen on 4 July, almost every expert is guessing about agrarian outcomes from the visit. Israel is not only a major defence partner of India but also an agriculture technology partner.
Be it a mango orchard in Haryana or any drip-irrigated vegetable-fruit nursery in Rajasthan or Gujarat, Israel’s expertise in agriculture is helping plants to grow across India.
MASHAV, the Israeli agency for foreign co-operation, had emerged as a possible saviour of entire Indian subcontinent. Gil Haskel head of MASHAV had termed it as “One of the two major pillars of Indo-Israeli partnership”. Haskel has labelled this long awaited visit as historic.
Every agrarian economy expert had said that Modi’s Israel visit may only pave the way for a stronger Indo-Israel agriculture partnership. Multiple joint ventures and memorandum of understandings are also expected in agricultural co-operation between two nations, during this visit of Indian PM.
Haskel described that “Agriculture plays a key role in Indian livelihood”. He had added that Indian premier may invest more funds in this developing sector.
MASHAV had planned some 27 centres for excellence across India, and 15 centres are already in progress, said director of one such horticulture (with specialty in citrus fruits) centre of excellence in Kota, Rashid Khan while speaking to BW Businessworld.
Rashid said, Israel has expertise in harvesting crops in adverse climatic conditions and their tools are practically outstanding. Rashid had also credited Israeli experts for letting his team nurture over dozen varieties of citrus fruits. These centres of excellence are fruits of 2008 Indo-Israel agricultural project, where India had contributed infrastructure wise and Israel in innovation part.
This centre of excellence had become so popular that surrounding nations like Bangladesh and Afghanistan, regularly send their guest experts to learn from them, even though these nations do not have any diplomatic relations with Israel, said Rashid.
Israeli embassy, MASHAV and Centre for International Agricultural Development Corporation (CINADCO) from Indian side are regular observers of such centres, added Rashid.
On the other hand Haskel said that Indian premier’s visit may result in signing a joint plan of action which will specify the roles of both the nations in further developing such centres of excellence. He, however, did not comment on terms of such joint action plan.
People like Rashid Khan though shared that millions of people are getting benefited from such centres hence, both Indian and Israeli sides must have identified important elements by this time.
He had also informed that Israeli Ambassador to India, Daniel Carmon already had multiple brain storming sessions with experts of both the nations for agriculture and water management. It is also an interesting point that in his recent visit to Netherland, the Indian PM had opted for water management as core idea of discussion.
India that is continuously fighting with falling ground water levels and climate change issues should be very optimistic with Indian PM’s Israel visit. As Israel is also an arid zone and India has a lot to learn from Israel. Carmon seems very optimistic about India and Israel’s three decades old friendly relations, and his optimist is only a reflection of optimist from many people like Rashid Khan from Indian side.
