Lok Sabha Question No. 3107 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Agreement for Cooperation in Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY, BALKA SUMAN, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, Adhikari Dibyendu, PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3107

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST   MARCH, 2017

## AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATION IN AGRICULTURE

3107.      DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY:

SHRI SUMAN BALKA:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI:

SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has signed agreements with a number of countries including Poland and Israel to enhance agricultural cooperation;
- (b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last five years and the current year along with the core objectives thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  programmes  undertaken  and  implemented  vice-versa  support  extended and activities done under these agreements during the said period, country-wise;
- (d) whether a Joint Working Group has been set up thereunder and if so, the details thereof along with the benefit that India will get out of this agreement; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  viable  farm  practices  that  have  been adopted by several countries?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a) & (b): Yes,  Madam.  Government  has  signed  agreement  with  74  countries  including Israel.   Moreover, an agreement with Poland has also been approved for signing. During last five  years,  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  has  signed  16  MoUs/Agreements  with foreign countries for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sector.  Details of these MoUs/Agreements are as under:

| Year            | Country(s)                                                 |
|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2012            | Sri Lanka, Australia, Vietnam;                             |
| 2013            | --                                                         |
| 2014            | Morocco, Vietnam                                           |
| 2015            | Mongolia                                                   |
| 2016            | Armenia, Madagascar, Lithuania, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Brazil; |
| 2017(till date) | UAE, Kenya, Portugal , Mauritius                           |

The  areas  for  cooperation  in  these  MoUs/Agreements  inter-alia  include  cooperation  in research and development, increasing productivity, post-harvest management, value addition/food processing, plant protection, animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries, enhancing trade  and  mutual  exchange,  reciprocal  visits  of  scientists,  mutual  exchange  of  technical expertise, exchange of Germ-plasm, transfer of technology, setting up of centers of excellence in different fields to demonstrate new technologies etc.

(c) to (e): Benefits  accruing  from  such  Agreements/MoUs  are  in  the  nature  of  capacity building, knowledge exchange through visits of scientists and technicians, exchange of genetic resources  etc.  that  aid  in  development  of  appropriate  technologies  and  farm  practices  for enhancing agriculture productivity at farmer's field.   Such cooperation also facilitates creation of opportunities for trade in agricultural commodities. India's strategic interests are also served through partnerships with other countries.

The Agreement with Israel does not have provision for Joint Working Group. However, various Centre of Excellences in the areas of fruits and vegetables have been established/approved  in  different  States  under  the  provisions  of  MoUs  signed  with  Israel.  In addition,  Israeli  experts  visit  India  for  providing  demonstration  and  training  while  Indian scientists and experts also visit Israel for training as part of the Capacity Building component of the Agreement.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established a network of 645 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the country for assessment and demonstration of technologies/products and its dissemination through extension programmes including training of farmers to update their knowledge and skills

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