Israeli delegation to visit Bangalore

An Israeli delegation consisting of agriculture scientists will visit the state shortly to explore the options of promoting dryland farming in Karnataka.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Monday, Karnataka?s horticulture and fisheries minister Nagaraja Shetty said the state intended to adopt dryland farming in an extensive manner to increase agricultural output.

"After Rajasthan, Karnataka has the largest arid land area. Though farmers own large tracts of arid land, they are unable to produce an adequate yield per acre. Israel being the pioneers of dryland farming, we are looking to it for technology transfer," the minister stated.

The minister had been to Israel recently to study dryland farming. "We are sending a delegation of progressive farmers from Karnataka to Israel for a first hand account. It will be followed by the Israel delegation's visit to the state," he added.