GUWAHATI, 2 November 2020: Taking forward the ever-growing partnership in agriculture between Israel and India, Ambassador of Israel in India, Dr. Ron Malka visited Assam and together with Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation of the first Indo-Israeli Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Vegetables in the state today.
Ambassador Dr. Ron Malka said, “We are excited to collaborate with the Government of Assam in agriculture, which is a significant part of the Indo-Israeli partnership. Today we have laid the foundation of a Centre of Excellence for Vegetables to benefit farmers of Assam. This is a milestone in the development of the State's agriculture sector, and will give local farmers a competitive edge in the national and international market which will enable them to double their income, aligned with the vision of honorable prime minister Modi.
The Centre of Excellence in Assam will introduce modern Israeli technologies in agriculture and water management to the local farmers under Indo-Israel Agricultural Project (IIAP). It will aim to increase farmers’ yield and productivity while diversifying local crops and optimizing resource efficiency of individual farmers using advanced micro-irrigation systems and other adapted technologies. Farmers in Assam will be able to choose the technology that suits them best, with the intent of doubling their income.
During the visit, Ambassador Dr. Ron Malka along with an Israeli delegation held a meeting with Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal in Guwahati. Both sides discussed collaborations on a range of subjects including agriculture, water management, horticulture, fisheries, dairy and more.
There are 29 fully active Indo-Israeli Centres of Excellence in different states across India, introducing crop diversity, increasing productivity and increasing water use efficiency. Each centre is a platform for knowledge transfer and Israeli Agro-Technology.
It aims to serve farmers with a focus on a key crop. Each center consists of nursery management, cultivation techniques, irrigation and fertigation. It provides solutions to the farmers, addressing gaps via the implementation of Israeli technology and know-how tailored to local conditions.
