In order to increase productivity and profitability by deploying latest technology in agriculture sector, New Zealand today expressed keen desire to setup ‘Joint Farms’ in Punjab. These agriculture farms would be pilot projects to showcase the latest technology in agriculture sector.
Also, it expressed desire to set up joint ventures in Punjab in various areas of Industry. This was informed by David Carter, New Zealand Minister in a meeting with Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal earlier.
Earlier, the New Zealand Minister said that Punjab and New Zealand share the common expertise in agriculture sector and New Zealand can coordinate with Punjab by offering it latest agriculture technology and techniques to prolong shelf life of agriculture products. Offering to setup ‘Joint Farms’ in Punjab, the New Zealand Minister said that these agriculture farms could be pilot projects to showcase the latest technology in agriculture sector. He said that the focus of New Zealand agriculture sector was on increasing productivity and profitability to make the sector self-sustaining. He said that New Zealand was passionate about experimenting with new technologies that can make it survive in the competitive market
Seeking the latest technology from New Zealand in milk chilling and milk processing sector, Badal said that Punjab has the second largest milk cooperative in the country that was operating with the most modern technology. He said that the cooperatives of New Zealand and Punjab can work collectively to setup joint ventures in such sectors and offer latest dairy products to the world market. The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister said that Punjab was also open to private dairy processing units of New Zealand setting up their ventures in Punjab.
Also, last year, India’s Premier Biennial Agro Technology and Business Fair ‘Agro Tech 2012’ organized by Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) Northern Region entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the largest agriculture show in the Southern Hemisphere- ‘New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays’. The aim of the MoU was to share the best practices and technologies as also build agri business connections between the two countries.
Through the MoU, CII Agro Tech and Fieldays will avail reciprocal rights to attend and exhibit at each others Agri & Business shows, share intellectual property, host VIPs and delegations and promote business collaborations. The signing of MoU recognizes CII’s and Fieldays; status as leading international facilitators of agribusiness expansion and innovation.