New Delhi, 20th November, 2014: The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr. Prakash Singh Badal, and Ambassador of Israel to India, H.E. Mr. Daniel Carmon, inaugurated today a Centre of Excellence for Fruits (Citrus) in Khanaura, Hoshiarpur, Punjab. Together with them was Mr. Dan Alluf, Counselor, International Development cooperation (MASHAV), Science and Agriculture, Embassy of Israel.
The event was attended by Agriculture Minister of Punjab, Mr. Jathedar S. Tota Singh, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, Mr. Vijay Sampla, Minister of Jail, Tourism, Cultural Affairs and Printing & Stationery, Mr. S Sohan Singh Thandal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Agriculture, Mr. S Gurbachan Singh Babehali, and other senior officials of the Punjab Government.
This is the second Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence to be established in the State of Punjab, in less than a year, following the Centre for vegetables in Kartarpur, Jalandhar. It will serve as yet another focal point for Indo-Israeli agriculture R&D, and will showcase some of the most advanced Israeli nursery and fruit cultivating technologies, adapted for Indian conditions by local experts. Later on this month, there will also be a vegetable seminar by an Israeli expert.
While addressing the audience, during the inauguration, Ambassador Carmon praised Chief Minister Badal for his vision, leadership and commitment for the betterment of Punjab’s farmers and Punjab’s people. " The professional, dedicated and enthusiastic government of Punjab has brought this dream to life and allowed its farmers a better future", Carmon told Chief Minister Badal. "This is the second Centre of Excellence in Punjab that is being dedicated in less than a year, following the Centre for vegetables in Kartarpur, Jalandhar. It's an achievement no other state in India had done before and it shows the importance Punjab sees in this initiative and believes in the strong and sustainable Punjabi-Israeli Cooperation," Ambassador Carmon added. He also thanked MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation and Israeli Citrus expert, Mr. Dov Rabber, for their vision, support, determination and belief in the agriculture cooperation between Israel and India.
Under the three year work plan for Indo-Israel cooperation in agriculture, 28 Centres of Excellence in 10 states across India are in various stages of development. The stakeholders are National Horticulture Mission, under the Ministry of Agriculture, states governments on the Indian side and MASHAV and Embassy of Israel on the Israeli side. MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation has been providing professional leadership in the shape of experts, know-how and technologies.