India & Colombia to partner on agriculture & fisheries

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Colombia in the field of agriculture and fisheries.

Under the MoU, a Joint-Working Group (JWG) will be constituted to prepare and finalize the work plan for the next two years while specifying activities to be undertaken during that period.

The MoU provides for cooperation in the following fields of agriculture and fisheries: Innovative agricultural practices/approaches, new agricultural mechanizations, successful models of agricultural marketing, to develop projects in association with agricultural companies for production of seed, Innovative production models and value generation processes in horticulture (vegetables, fruits and flowers).

The agreement also involves exchange of information/exchange visits of SPS experts, Jatropha and Karaya; cooperation in research in oil seeds and oil palm; marine industrial fishing; aqua-culture and research and training in the field of fisheries; small and large ruminants (cattle, sheep, goat) and pigs productivity; diseases and diagnostics and pork processing and value addition.

The MoU will be initially valid for a period of five years and shall be automatically extended for subsequent periods of five years unless either party expresses its intention to terminate it.