Northeast is getting its first ever Centre for Agriculture, in collaboration with Israeli expertise. Israeli Ambassador to India, Daniel Carmon on Wednesday said this will be the first such centre in the North East region of India that is being established with Israeli collaboration.
A delegation led by Israeli Ambassador Carmon met DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed various issues of common interest including start-ups, food processing, innovation and technology during the meeting.
The centre to be set up with a cost of Rs 8-10 crore is exclusively for processing of citrus fruits. The project has been set up with the tripartite collaboration of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Government of Israel and state government of Mizoram.
Israel will provide expertise knowledge and professional support. Though located in Mizoram, this centre will cater to the whole North East.
There are 22 such operational centres in India including in the states of Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab. The first centre was established in 2008 in Haryana.
Ambassador Carmon said in the long run, Israel wants to establish one such centre in each state. The centre will be inaugurated on March 7.
DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said this centre is a beginning of the larger collaboration between the two countries in this area.
“The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) will coordinate wherever required,” he said. He further said it will benefit the farmers of the Northeastern region in the long run and will also encourage the farmers from other regions.
“It will serve as a model of learning for other countries in Indian sub-continent,” Dr Singh said. He said the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given priority to the development of North Eastern region of the country.
He said Sikkim has been declared the first Organic State of India and Israel can look forward to this kind of collaboration there also. It will benefit the people of North East in the area of innovation, especially for start-ups.