Punjab to collaborate with Ontario on foor processing

Punjab and Government of Ontario, province of Canada, today mutually agreed to work in collaboration with each other for giving push to agriculture diversification and food processing industry.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting with the high level delegation of Ontario province led by Minister of Agriculture Jeff Leal here, said an official release.
Meanwhile, the Guru Angad Dev Animal and Veterinary Sciences University (GADVASU) and University of Guelph (Ontario) signed MoU in fields of Livestock Agriculture, Aquaculture, Food Processing and Veterinary Medicine in presence of the CM, Cabinet Minister Adesh Pratap Singh and Ontarian Minister of Agriculture Jeff Leal.

During the meeting, both the governments agreed to mutually work to prepare a framework for the support and cooperation of both the states in field of diversification of agriculture, food processing, dairy fishery and piggery sector.
It was decided that both the governments would ensure the mutual trips of faculty, students and progressive farmers for better exchange of expertise in these fields. Likewise, it was also decided that University of Guelph and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) would also explore the feasibility of better coordination in these fields.
Taking part in deliberations, the chief minister said that there was a huge scope of bilateral cooperation in these areas as both Punjab and Ontario had demonstrated their strength and dominance in agriculture and allied farming due to their vast experience and expertise.

He said as both were primarily agrarian economies with very strong agriculture base so as to mutually benefit from technology transfer, cooperation and support.

Badal urged Jeff Leal to carry forward the proposals mutually agreed upon by both of them to its logical end so that these should not merely confine to the papers.
Underscoring the need for students and teachers exchange programme, Badal said that the modalities in this regard could be worked out and formulated mutually by both the governments.
He also stressed on need of farmers' exchange programme for fast and easy transfer of technologies to the fields for introducing new and scientific farm practices to Punjabi farmers.

Badal invited the leaders of food processing industry of Canada to set up their ventures in the state, adding that the Punjab government would provide full support and cooperation to them.
Jeff Leal said that there was a tremendous potential for the mutual cooperation in the other allied sectors of agriculture and animal husbandry.
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Meanwhile, Haryana and Ontario, Canada have agreed to constitute working groups to further promote agriculture cooperation, especially in the key areas of food processing, food safety, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Cooperative sector and Horticulture University which is being set up in Haryana.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who held a meeting with a delegation of Government of Ontario, Canada led by Jeff Leal and Minister of International Trade Michael Chan here today, extended cooperation of the state in these areas.

The delegation evinced keen interest in mutual cooperation in these areas and also agreed to lend its support in better management of paddy straw.
It was informed that working groups would be constituted for exchanging technical support and cooperation and deliberate on the key areas between both the governments for boosting production and productivity in the state.
The chief minister said that there is a large scope of joint ventures in agriculture and food processing in the state. Haryana surrounds national capital Delhi on three sides and there is a lot of scope to tap the market of fruits and vegetable in peri-urban areas with the best utilization of technologies.

He said that besides, agriculture university, there are Centres of Excellence for fruits and vegetables in the state. As the majority of farmers have small land holdings, the cooperative is also a major sector where both the governments could collaborate with the active participation of people.
He said the state government has already signed an MoU with the Province of Ontario to further enhance and strengthen economic relations, facilitate knowledge transfer and encourage ongoing dialogue and cooperation and collaborations in various fields.
He also sought suggestions for better management of Agriculture and allied sectors.
Jeff Leal said there are cordial relations between Canada and India and they look forward to further strengthen the bond between Ontario and Haryana.

The delegation also suggested for mutual cooperation for training of students and teachers at University level.