Israel is to establish a “Water Attache” in India. It is to operate from January 2021 under the Israel Embassy in India. The Water Attache division will share Israel’s best practices, technologies and water management in agriculture sectors.
Also, Israel is to soon appoint an honorary Consul to the North-East. Its objective is to increase its presence and collaboration in the north-east region.
Israel in India during COVID-19
A strategic cooperation of G2G level in the field of agriculture is under implementation between the countries. The cooperation focuses on crop diversity, increased productivity and enhances water efficiency in horticulture. This is currently addressing the challenges of Covid-19 pandemic. Under the cooperation, Centres of Excellence are to be established. The centres will adopt advanced agriculture farm Technology of Israel. The COE’s main objective is to benefit farmers on selected key crops. The COE will focus on Nursery Management, irrigation, fertigation and cultivation techniques. The COE will be the meeting point for Government, Academy and farmers to cooperate towards the beneficial achievement.
India-Israel Agricultural Project
- Indo-Israeli Agriculture Project was launched in 2008.
- The objective of Indo-Israeli Agriculture Project is to share best practices and technical knowledge from Israel to Indian Farmers.
- The project achievements of Indo-Israel Agriculture project includes rejuvenation of mango orchards in Maharashtra, cherry tomatoes growing in Haryana and demonstrating to Indian farmers the effectiveness of irrigation technologies.
- MASHAV represents Israel in the project
What is MASHAV?
- Mashav is an Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is India’s strategic partner in the twelve-year cooperation, based on a memorandum of understanding signed in 2006.
- Mashav conducts the design, coordination and implementation of the State of Israel’s worldwide development and cooperation programs in developing countries.
- Under the cooperation pact, around twenty-eight fully active Centers of Excellence have been established over 12 states in India.
- Under this project, the key crops include mango, pomegranate, citrus fruits, date palm, vegetables, floriculture and bees keeping are all focused.
- All products and activities that hold potential to increase crops in terms of quantity and quality, save water and nutrients and result in higher earnings for the farmer are focused.
- The programmes are sponsored by the UNESCO and the Food and Agriculture Organization.