Haryana, Israel to constitute working groups

Haryana and Israel today agreed to constitute working groups to further promote agricultural cooperation.

Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who held a meeting with minister of agriculture and rural development of Israel, Orit Noked in Tel Aviv (Israel), immediately formed a working group of Haryana when the suggestion for the same came from Noked, an official statement said here.

Hooda designated Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary Agriculture Roshan Lal as head of Haryana's Working Group with vice-chancellor of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar and Director General Horticulture as its members.

While discussing various issues with the Israeli Minister, Hooda sought the latest technology on water conservation, water harvesting, drip and sprinkler irrigation from Israel and asked for extended co-operation, including visits by experts, for boosting agricultural and horticultural production and productivity in the state.

He invited Israel to set up units in Haryana for the manufacture of plastic films or material, used in poly houses and net houses to make cheap material available to the growers.

Hooda thanked the Israeli Government for active help and know-how in setting up two centres of excellence for fruits and vegetables in Haryana and listed some fields which admitted of greater cooperation between Israel and Haryana.

"I would like to emphasise that since water conservation and water harvesting are areas of prime concern in the water-deficit agrarian state of Haryana, we would like to seek latest Israeli technology in these fields.

Of special interest and significance to us are the Israeli systems of drip and sprinkler irrigation which would enable the farmers of Haryana to irrigate more areas with less water," he added.

Listing out the areas in which there could be extended cooperation between Israel and Haryana, the Chief Minster said Haryana needed planting material from Israel. At the Centre of Excellence for Fruits, planting material is imported for plantation.

However, some varieties are not being imported due to the varietal restrictions imposed by Israel. Their performance being excellent according to global standards, these varieties may be allowed to Haryana. The fruits for which he sought additional varieties are citrus; olives, pomegranate, mango and grapes.

Hooda asked Israel to depute experts at the Centre of Excellence for vegetables to facilitate and ensure continuous technological up-gradation of various crops.

He sought experts for high-tech seedling production; for application of know-how for soil-less production of tomato, cucumber and capsicum; and for post-harvest management handling of produce during production period.

The chief minister invited Israel to set up manufacturing units in Haryana for plastic films/ material used in poly houses and net houses so that ther material may be made available to growers at affordable prices.

He also sought mechanisation/machinery for post-harvest management and processing; collaboration for setting up organic centre; bee centre for breeding, production and training; and support for setting up a Centre of Excellence for flowers in Haryana.

He also evinced interest in technology for use of brackish water for the purpose of agricultural or horticultural crops; technology for treatment of city waste water to use for horticultural crops on the pattern of Israel; and new intervention in the field of animal Husbandry and dairy and fisheries.

"I am sure the Government of Israel will be forthcoming in further extending its hand of help and cooperation to enable Haryana to play a pivotal role in boosting agricultural and horticultural production to satisfy the needs of its people, and of those in the National Capital Region where the state occupies a pride of place," he added.

Expressing his gratitude to the Israeli government, especially Orit Noked, for extending help and know-how in setting up two projects in Haryana, he said, "I can say with reasonable pride and satisfaction that these projects-Centre of Excellence for Fruits in Sirsa District; and Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Karnal District—are well on way to realising their desired objectives," he remarked.

These projects had been set up under the Indo-Israel bilateral agreement, signed between the Government of India and the Government of Israel in May, 2006, for the promotion of agriculture co-operation.

The centre of excellence for fruits would facilitate introduction of new varieties, help extend fruiting period, solve problems related to root stock, and enable the farmers to carve a niche for themselves in domestic and export markets