PNS | New Delhi
An Israeli delegation of experts on water and agriculture will be in India to share their expertise and collaborate with Indian States and business houses. Israel is the partner country for the India Water Week to be held in New Delhi from April 4-8. The delegation led by Israel's Minister for agriculture, Uri Ariel, will also share their expertise on irrigation technologies like drip irrigation, and efficient water management at local level.
A team of Israeli experts recently had a meeting with New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) during which they shared innovative ideas for water purification, waste management, water management etc. Already Israeli companies are running eight water desalination and purification plants in India, prominently in Chennai and Agra.
India and Israel are strategic partners (G2G) in the field of agriculture working under Indo-Israel Agricultural Project (IIAP) and helping local farmers by increasing crop diversity, productivity by effective use of resources. The IIAP has set up 26 Centre for Excellence for fruits and vegetables across 9 States. Israeli experts will be sharing technology and ideas on drip irrigation, one of Israel's flagship creations to push more crop per drop.
According to Israel's Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon, drip irrigation increases yield quantity and quality while optimising water usage through execution of water management techniques, alongside fertigation, in order to supply the exact needs of each crop.
A country that has suffered due to acute shortage of water, strongly believes that educating masses helps. During the events at India Water Week, the spokesman from Israeli Water Authority, Uri Schor, will speak about creating awareness for water conservation among younger generation. Ambassador Carmon said a public campaign to encourage water saving within the pubic, along with education in schools from early ages, has helped Israel save about 18 per cent of its water consumption during the hardest drought period it ever faced. The emphasis was put on how to make water saving a permanent lifestyle, and not a temporary measure. Schor will share the Israeli experience, guidelines and concept of the public awareness and participation campaign.
"The issue of water is so big that we can do so much together by collaborating effectively. We have faced severe water crisis in Israel which is why we developed technologies that can help us deal with the shortage. Water is crucial to agriculture and is linked to Food Security, hence, we are willing to partner with India in every possible way," Carmon said.