Raje takes up farm issues in Israel

In her visit to Israel Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has held discussions with experts associated with agriculture, dairy, fisheries, and other industries and got extensive information about the use of modern technology in these sectors.

Raje also visited 'Magan Michael and Plasson Kibbutz' in Israel on Tuesday.

Raje is in Israel with an Indian delegation attending Agritech 2006.

Raje discussed with experts subjects such as bio-technology, the production of low-water crops, dairy, agriculture processing, machinery associated with agriculture, irrigation, facilities after crop production, high-value products of oranges-Kinnu-milk and tissue culture.

She sought suggestions from experts on farm challenges posed by the state's climate, and land and scarcity of water in the state.

The chief minister said most of the agriculture in Rajasthan was heavily dependent on rain. She said there were vast differences in the quantity of rain received in different parts of the state.

She said the state government wanted to promote cultivation of high variety seeds and plants which could survive in low moisture and saline land of the state.

She said that the state government was interested in promoting the production of crops like millet, maize, pulses, cereals and cotton.

Raje emphasized the need for appropriate processing technology for fruits and vegetables and dairy technology in rural areas in Rajasthan, which did not require much technical skills.

She also discussed with the experts about improving the breeds of the cattle and high value horticulture-floriculture, fisheries development, natural conservation of water and construction of ponds. The experts expressed a keen desire to work in Rajasthan.

Raje informed that the state government was promoting the participation of private sector in agriculture & animal husbandry development and in management and conservation of water.

The chief minister also met the chief executive officer of the bio-technology expert company 'Evogen', Ufar Habib, agriculture processing, marketing and land management expert, Uval Oren and the chief executive officer of agriculture machinery company 'Lakhish', Amir Gur.

Earlier the chief minister visited 'Magan Michael and Plasson Kibbtuz' (community enterprise) and sought information about the techniques associated with agriculture and related industries.

She first went to Magan Michael, where she took information about the modern techniques being adopted in fisheries development. After this she went to ' Plasson Kibbtuz', where she saw the polythene pipe fittings, poultry drinkers system and the ponds constructed there.