INDO-ISRAEL Agriculture Cooperation

Context: India and Israel will collaborate to establish 150 'Villages of Excellence,' which will assist farmers in adopting cutting-edge farm technologies and building modern rural infrastructure.

• Israeli Ambassador to India has called on the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. During the meeting, the two countries agreed to further enhance cooperation in the agricultural sector.

History of India-Israel Agriculture Cooperation
In the agricultural sector, India and Israel had bilateral relations since 1993. The key initiatives of India-Israel Agriculture Cooperation are:
Agreement on Agriculture Cooperation

• In May 2021, India and Israel signed a three-year work program agreement for development in agriculture cooperation.
• The programme aims to grow existing Centers of Excellence (CoE), establish new centers, bring them into the self-sufficient mode and encourage private sector companies and collaboration.

INDO-ISRAEL Villages of Excellence

• The INDO-ISRAEL Villages of Excellence is a new concept aimed at creating a model ecosystem in agriculture across 8 states alongside 13 CoEs within 75 villages.
• The aim of the programme is to promote the increase of net income and better the livelihood of the individual farmer. Therefore, transforming traditional farms into modern-intensive farms based on IIAP standards.
• Modern agriculture infrastructure includes pressurized water transportation from source to the field, drip irrigation system, sensors, precision agriculture solutions, meteorological stations, nurseries, agro machinery, packinghouses, cold-chain facilities, transportation, and other agro-technologies.
• Capacity Building- Training of Trainers (TOT), Farmer Training, Generate Cultivation Protocols, Agri-Technology Expertise and Training, Agro-Business Training.

Indo-Israeli Agriculture Project (IIAP)

• Indo-Israeli Agriculture Project is based on the concept of establishing Centers of Excellence which provide a platform for a rapid transfer of technology to the farmers with the aim of increasing productivity and improving the quality of produce.
• Currently, 29 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) are operational across India in 12 States.