INDO-ISRAEL Agricultural Project (IIAP)

A Growing Partnership

Background- India and Israel have a strategic cooperation on the G2G level in the field of agriculture. This partnership evolved into the INDO-ISRAEL Agricultural Project, based on a MOU signed in 2006. The project is aiming at introducing crop diversity, increasing productivity & optimizing water use efficiency. IIAP implemented via establishment of Centers of Excellence (CoE), in which Israeli Ag-Technologies and knowledge disseminated and tailored to local Indian conditions.

Stakeholders- the Federal Govt. of India and state Dept. lead the partnership by defining the key crops and sanctioning the activity, the Israeli stakeholder, MASHAV- is guiding the standard of the CoE and transferring the Israeli knowledge into the IIAP.  

·         MIDH (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture) – Authorizing, budget and monitoring the project.

·         State Governments- allocating staff, land and budget.

·         MASHAV (Israel’s agency for International Development Cooperation) - leading the IIAP from the strategic and tactical aspect. Providing professional leadership during planning and executing phase, transfer of knowledge and Agro-Technology.

·         Embassy of Israel- Platform for Israeli activity

Implementation- 12 States take part in the IIAP, 29 CoE’s are into the fully active stage. Each IIAP phase lasts for three years (2009-2012; 2012-2015, 2015-2018, 2018-2020, 2021-2023). Currently the “three year work program in Agriculture 2021-2023” was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare of the Republic of India & MASHAV- Ministry of Foreign Affairs Israel to increase the value chain demonstrated with the fully operative Indo-Israel Center of Excellence by introducing new components.

Centre of Excellence, The model of implementation- INDO-ISRAEL Centers of Excellence (CoE) are advanced/intensive agriculture farms for knowledge transfer of Israeli Agro-Technology tailored to the local conditions. CoE aims to benefit farmers with a focus on selected key crops. Each CoE will be comprised of Nursery management, Best practices Cultivation techniques, Irrigation & fertigation. Sustainability- IIAP aims to develop into a self-sufficient platform in the aspect of HR, accumulated knowledge & operating capabilities. The CoE acts as a meeting point for Academy, Government and farmers to cooperate towards fruitful achievements. 

Nursery- an IIAP nursery aims to demonstrate and produce commercial scale of seedlings or tree plants so farmers will be able to make use of high quality, uniform and healthy plants. The nursery itself will present modern agro-technology, climate control components, irrigation and fertigation.

Demonstration plots- exhibiting intensive farming with increased productivity, optimal water use efficiency in key crops.  Focusing on Applied solutions, addressing gaps via implementation of Israeli technology and knowledge tailored to local conditions.

Train of Trainer (TOT) - Israeli experts train the Indian CoE teams. The training takes place at the CoE in India and during state courses taking place in Israel. Following TOT CoE, teams train the farmers, through Extension activity. The purpose of this important link is to disseminate the knowledge and to ensure optimal assimilation of knowledge and Ag-tech at farmer’s field.

Address for INDO-ISRAEL Center of Excellence’s (CoE) in India

Link: https://embassies.gov.il/delhi/Relations/Indo-Israel-AP/Pages/Locations.aspx

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