Hry CM invites experts from Israel to assist farmers

Determined to double the income of farmers by 2022, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal, during his visit to Israel, has invited technologies and investment and also, sought collaborations in the fields of waste water treatment, micro irrigation, precision farming, crop innovation, and sprinkler system to assist and enable the farmers of the state to produce more and earn more.

Speaking during the inaugural session of the 20th International Agritech on Tuesday in Tel Aviv where high profile ministers, governors and delegates from 51 countries participated, the Chief Minister invited potential partners, companies, and research institutions from Israel to come forward and be a part of the growth story of Haryana.

Stressing the need for family and integrated farming to combat desertification, he said integrated farming also reflected the social character of the joint family system in India.

The Chief Minister said ways should also be explored for the development of arid and semi-arid regions where industrialization can play an important role.

He disclosed that the Haryana Government is coming up with an industrial township of global standards in Sohna, which would serve as a catalytic agent for the development of the region.

Positioning Haryana as a leading state both in industry and agriculture, Manohar Lal said the state had emerged as a preferred investment destination among foreign investors.

He also invited Israeli companies to come and invest in the shared future of Haryana and Israel.

The Chief Minister alongwith the high-level state delegation also visited the fields near Tel Aviv and interacted with farmers to have first-hand account of the latest Israeli technology and expertise.

He interacted with local farmers to know how they adopted the new techniques in the field of agriculture and what impact these had on both production and productivity. He also discussed in detail diversification and introduction of new crops which have enabled the farmers in Israel to double production while cutting down on the use of resources.

Manohar Lal also interacted with captains of micro irrigation industries, including Nandan Jain, to know how best these practices there can be adopted in Haryana.

Notably, the micro irrigation is being adopted in Haryana for the cultivation of crops to save water. Micro irrigation system can work on just 30 per cent water and save about 70 per cent. Besides, horticulture cultivation is catching the fancy of farmers in Haryana. While many farmers are taking to horticulture, those already into it are bringing more acres under vegetables and fruits.