India eyes key agri sector deals
India expects to sign a few agreements with the US in the field of agriculture during the meetings on Monday between visiting US President Barack Obama and top Indian leaders. A senior agriculture ministry official said the agreements are likely to help India improve its capability in predicting monsoon, which is crucial for the agriculture sector, crop weather prediction and predicting floods.
“Around 60 per cent of our agriculture is rainfed. Technical cooperation with US in the filed will help predict the complex Indian monsoon better and improve crop management,” said agriculture secretary P.K. Basu.
Mr Basu further said improved prediction models with the help of US technology would come handy in reducing crop failures. As a result, the government would be able to address India’s growing food security concerns better, he added.
The ministry official, meanwhile, said the department of economic affairs under the finance ministry and the USAID have already worked out a detailed plan for the Indo-US cooperation in areas like crop development besides crop extension services and agronomic models. “Specific projects will be cleared after high-level interaction with the visiting US President,” he informed.
The official also said that the Indo-US cooperation is expected to provide India a chance to partner the US in developing agri-related activities in the developing world, especially the African countries.
Following an MoU signed between the two countries about six months back, the government of India had formed three working groups on food security, market access and weather forecasting.
The specific projects to be signed are the result of consultations Indian scientists have had with their American counterparts to coincide with President Obama’s first visit to India.
Sources in the ministry also talked about a possible Indo-US agreement to facilitate commodity trade.
While the United States is keen to sell pork, poultry, dairy and pet food in the Indian markets, India in turn wants to export grapes, litchi and pomegranates, they said.
Post new comment