Lucknow: U.P. Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi met Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar, Noah Amsalem Water Attach, Embassy of Israel, Brahma Dev Project Officer Masheva, Israeli Embassy at his official residence in Lucknow. During this, he discussed about expanding technical partnership between India and Israel in the agriculture sector and connecting small farmers with the Center for Excellence established with the technical cooperation of Israel in Kannauj and Basti. The Agriculture Minister told the Israeli delegation that Uttar Pradesh is progressing rapidly in the production of garden crops, vegetables, food grains and oilseeds and all preparations are being made to use better technology in future.
He said that the Center for Excellence is ready in Kannauj and Basti, farmers should be connected with it, and big farmers should also be provided better technical support for food processing, export and packaging on a cluster approach. He informed that the Centre for Excellence is running well in Kannauj and Basti. Detailed discussions were held here about the visit of farmers and extension activities and about making the One Centre for Excellence in Kaushambi and Chandauli functional as soon as possible.
On this occasion, the Israeli Ambassador also urged the Agriculture Minister and his team to participate in the Agritech Exhibition being organized in 2025. The possibilities of working on PPP mode with Israeli companies by using technology on government farms were also discussed.
During this, Advisor to the Honorable Chief Minister, KV Raju, Principal Secretary Agriculture, Ravindra, Secretary Agriculture, Anurag Yadav, Director Agriculture, Dr. Jitendra Kumar Tomar, Director of Uttar Pradesh Seed Development Corporation, Pankaj Tripathi and other senior officers were also present.