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India, Iran to promote farm cooperation
Tuesday, 16 December 2003, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI: India and Iran Monday signed an agreement to promote cooperation in the farm sector as New Delhi requested Tehran to lift a ban on the import of Indian wheat.
The agreement, signed here in the presence of Iranian Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati and his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, covers areas like dairy farming, fisheries and agricultural research and development.
Singh requested Iran to lift its ban on the import of Indian wheat due to the problem of Karnal bunt, a fungal infection found in wheat grown in some parts of north India.
In a statement on the agreement, India's agriculture ministry said: "The work-plan seeks to develop and promote closer ties in the field of agricultural research and education."
During talks, Hojjati expressed interest in learning from the Indian experience in increasing production of food grains and milk.
A major problem Iran faced was post-harvest wastage of produce, he noted. The southern part of his country was facing the problem of pests.
"Because of climatic similarities between southern Iran and India, there is scope for bilateral cooperation in the area," Hojjati said.
Singh suggested joint programmes should be prepared on disease management in crops.
Both sides expressed willingness to begin talks on quarantine and plant protection issues to boost bilateral trade.
India is the seventh largest export destination for Iran. Bilateral trade was worth $2.02 billion in 2001-02.
Source: IANS
Source: IANS