Haryana farmers to visit Israel for specialized training

By Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, May 21

Now farmers of Haryana will visit Israel to undergo specialized training in agriculture as an assurance to this effect has been given to Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda by the Ambassador of Israel, Mr. Alon Ushpiz.

          The Chief Minister, who was inaugurating a Centre of Excellence for Fruits, an Indo-Israel project , at village Mangiana in district Sirsa today had urged Mr. Alon Ushpiz to train farmers of Haryana in their agricultural practices, especially most modern technology of irrigation and cultivation.

The Chief Minister said that Mr. Alon Ushpiz has consented that two training courses having a group of 25 to 30 farmers each could be conducted every year. These courses would soon be organized so that our farmers could get information about how to increase productivity by using less water.

            While congratulating the farmers for this new Centre of Excellence , Mr. Hooda said that our great leader Mr. Rajiv Gandhi had dreamt  of rapid progress of the country in the 21stcentury. His vision was that only communication technology is not enough, but other latest techniques in agriculture should be made available for the farmers in the country. Today, on his death anniversary, dedication of this centre is a step forward towards realization of late Mr. Rajiv Gandhi’s dream. The farmers could achieve progress only by adopting new  technology. Time has come to switch on to new technique in cultivation so that income of farming community could be increased.

            Mr. Hooda said that Israel and Haryana have similarities in climate and soil conditions. There is an acute shortage of irrigation water in Israel but there the farmers  were getting maximum production by adopting most modern technology of irrigation and cultivation. However, Israel is a small country yet it had exported fruits and vegetables in entire Europe and other countries. He said that landholdings in the state are shrinking and availability of water is decreasing slowly. Hence, it is necessary to adopt technology of high density plantation by using less water that gives more yields.

            While thanking UPA government and Union Agriculture Minister for providing two Centres of Excellence to Haryana out of 14 in the country, Mr. Hooda said that Centres of Excellence for vegetables had already been established at Gharaunda, Karnal. Both these centres were examples of Indo-Israel joint cooperation in the field of horticulture. He said that this centre would provide disease free plants for kinnows to the farmers. New varieties of citrus were being tested to prolong harvesting period of citrus fruits. Apart from others, new crops of olive would be tested here. This Centre of Excellence for Fruits has been set up at a cost of Rs.9.7 crore over an area of 72 acres.

            Mr. Hooda said that Haryana has got maximum benefit under National Horticulture Mission. Rs. 114 crore had been spent under the Mission in district Sirsa. Out of total 2500 community water tanks constructed in the state, about 1200 have been constructed in Sirsa only. Agro-malls are being established in the state and an international Terminal market is being set up at Ganaur. Apart from this, 14 Front Demonstration Centres at farmers’ fields had also been set up in various districts to promote protected cultivation technologies, he added.

             Mr. Hooda also assured that there would be no shortage of staff in Horticulture Department as nowadays the department had became very important for farmers.

 Mr Hooda also released a book of Haryana Kisan Ayog entitled ‘Horticulture Development in Haryana’. He also announced grant of Rs.50 lakh for pavement of streets and Rs. one crore for drinking water for village Mangiana.

            Speaking on this occasion, Ambassador of Israel, Mr. Alon Ushpiz said that today another Centre of Excellence had been inaugurated by Chief Minister in the wonderful state of Haryana. He said that people of Haryana are very hard working and dedicated like those of Israel. They never surrender to hardship of nature. Speaking in chaste Hindi, he said, “Jab hum Haryana mein hain, hame apne ghar jaisa mehsoos hota hai. Jab Haryana wasiyon se baat karte hain, tab mahsoos hota hai, apne bhaiyon se baat kar rahe hain” (When we are in Haryana, we feel like in our home. When we talk to Haryana people, we feel that we are talking to our brothers). He also congratulated Union Agriculture Minister Mr. Sharad Pawar for promoting agriculture cooperation between two countries.

            While extending best wishes for setting up of Centre of Excellence for Fruits, Head MASHAV, Mr. Daniel Carmon said that centre would be an example of success. He said that cooperation between Israel and Haryana will continue and we are exploring possibilities to cooperate in other fields also. He also thanked the Chief Minister for supporting this ambitious project.

            Member of Parliament, Dr. Ashok Tanwar, Agriculture Minister, Mr. Paramvir Singh, Minister of State for Agriculture Mr. Sukhbir Kataria, OSD (Media) to Chief Minister, Dr K.V. Singh and Political Advisor to Chief Minister Prof. Virender Singh also spoke on this occasion.

            Those present on this occasion included Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Prahalad Singh Gillankhera, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Chhatar  Singh, former Minister Mr. Ranjit Singh, former MPs Mr. Sushil Kumar Indora and Mr. Atma Singh Gill, Chairman Haryana Kisan Ayog Mr. R.S. Paroda, Vice Chancellor CCSHAU, Hisar Dr. K.S. Khokhar, Principal Secretary Agriculture Mr. Roshan Lal, former MLA Mr. Mani Ram Keharwal, DCC President Mr. Malkit Singh Khosa, senior Congress leader, Mrs. Krishna Punia a number of dignitaries and officers and farmers.