India, Columbia soon to join hands in field of agriculture and fisheries

New Delhi, December 15: Indian and Columbia are set to join hands in the field of agriculture and fisheries with an aim to boost the economy and mutual co-operation of both the countries. Notably, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Colombia in the field of agriculture and fisheries. 

The MoU provides for cooperation in the following fields of agriculture and Fisheries:

1. Innovative agricultural practices/approaches,
2. New agricultural mechanizations,
3. Successful models of agricultural marketing,
4. To develop projects in association with agricultural companies for production of seed,
5. Innovative production models and value generation processes in horticulture(vegetables, fruits and flowers),
6. Exchange of information/exchange visits of SPS experts,
7. Jatropha and Karaya,
8. Cooperation in research in oil seeds and oil palm,
9. Marine Industrial Fishing, Aqua-culture and Research & Training in the field of Fisheries,
10. Small and large ruminants (cattle, sheep, goat) and pigs productivity, diseases and diagnostics and
11. Pork processing and value addition.

Interestingly, under the MoU, a Joint-Working Group (JWG) will be constituted to prepare/finalize Work Plan for the next two years while specifying task/ activities to be undertaken during that period. The MoU will be initially valid for a period of five years and shall be automatically extended for a subsequent period of five years unless either party expresses its desire/intention to terminate it.