Israel to train 26 Indian horticulturists

As part of cooperation in agriculture between India and Israel, 26 horticulture officers from 12 states would undergo two weeks' training on modern irrigation and fertigation technologies in the middle eastern country, officials said Friday.

The 12 states are Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

"The training programme aims at sharing Israel's proven experience and research in irrigation and fertigation with Indian experts so that they will be able to adapt these modern technologies to the local needs and conditions in India," a statement issued by the Israel embassy here said.

"Most of the participating officers are already involved in Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence in their home states, and they will impart the knowledge they have accumulated in Israel with experts and farmers in their respective states," it added.

"The training programme in Israel will be followed by a workshop in India, led by irrigation and fertigation experts from Israel and from India," it further said.

According to Uri Rubinstein, agriculture counsellor in the Israel embassy here, the country is a world leader in irrigation and fertigation technologies and could be of great help for Indian experts.

"The adaptation and implementation of advanced Israeli agro-technologies and knowhow by Indian experts, has proven time and again to significantly enhance productivity and improve produce quality, for the benefit of the Indian farmers and the consumers," said Rubinstein.