Syllabus Section: Bilateral Relations

Why in News?

The two governments have agreed to enhance their cooperation in agriculture and signed a three-year work program agreement for development in Agriculture cooperation.

About: 

• India and Israel are implementing the “INDO-ISRAEL Agricultural Project Centres of Excellence” and “INDO-ISRAEL Villages of Excellence”.
• The Indo-Israeli Agriculture Project is based on the concept of establishing Centers of Excellence which provide a platform for a rapid transfer of technology to the farmers with the aim of increasing productivity and improving the quality of produce.
• MIDH, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare, (GoI), and MASHAV - Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation - are leading Israel’s largest G2G cooperation, with 29 operational Centres of Excellence (COEs) across India in 12 States, implementing Advanced-Intensive agriculture farms with Israeli Agro-Technology tailored to local conditions.

INDO-ISRAELI AGRICULTURE PROJECT:

• The first stage of the Indo-Israeli Agricultural Cooperation Project started in 2008 following the signing of a three-year Action Plan based on a Government-to-Government Agreement.
• The plan was later on extended to include the 2012-2015 period.
• This is the 5th IIAP.
• Four such Agriculture Action Plans have been successfully completed so far: First IIAP (2008-10), Second IIAP (2012-15), Third IIAP (2015-18), and Fourth IIAP (2018-20).

INDO-ISRAEL Villages of Excellence:

• This is a new concept aimed at creating a model ecosystem in agriculture across eight states, alongside 13 Centers of Excellence within 75 villages.
• The program will promote the increase of net income and better the livelihood of the individual farmer, transforming traditional farms into modern-intensive farms based on IIAP standards.
• Large-scale and complete value chain approach with economic sustainability, embedded with Israeli novel technologies and methodologies will be tailored to local conditions.
• It will focus on:

• Modern Agriculture infrastructure,
• Capacity Building,
• Market linkage.

Source: PIB