MP's Israel tie-up turns out to be too expensive

Jerusalem is too costly for Madhya Pradesh in terms of training on post-harvest management and most modern agri-techniques. This is what state officials observed during the two-day visit to Israel (cities of Tel Aviv and Kibbutz Naan).

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with a platoon of officials, were in Israel on January 30 and January 31 as part of the three-year work plan for cooperation in the field of agriculture, which was signed by the Indian and Israeli governments, during Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's visit to Israel in May last year on the occasion of the Agritech 2006 exhibition.

During the two-day visit, Israel made presentations on micro irrigation, agri technology, sprinkler-controlled irrigation, green house and solid waste management.

Though state officials found the training part too costly, they may initiate talks with an Israeli firm Naandan Irrigation System for post-harvest management and modern agri-techniques.

The Rajasthan government has already entered into a tie-up with the company for post-harvest management techniques.

However, sharing experience with the Agriculture Research Organisation (ARO)--a decisive body of the Israel agriculture department--is unlikely. A government official said, "It is too costly--Rs 15 lakh per year per student for post-harvest management or some modern agri-technique training."

"Members of the company may visit this month, but it would be premature to make any comment," JN Kansotia, managing director, Madhya Pradesh State Agro Industries Development Corporation, told Business Standard. He was a member of the visiting delegation.

The delegation, comprising Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, State Planning Board member Sompal Shashtri and senior officials, met Israeli Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Shalom Simhon in Tel Aviv on January 31.

The other projects which the delegation visited included a water recycling plant and use of silver iodide in seeding clouds to make rains.

Almost 70 per cent of Madhya Pradesh's population is still dependent upon agriculture but its contribution to state gross domestic product, according to government's recently released statement, is only 26 per cent.

The work-plan signed by the Union government includes the development of agri-business projects, collaborative research and development, academic and farmer-level exchanges and cooperation in gene bank resources.

Israel will transfer technologies and techniques relating to post-harvest management and value addition for fruits, vegetables and dairy products; energy efficient and cost-effective greenhouse structures; development of the dairy sector; and water management, including recycling of domestic wastewater for irrigation.