As a part of the country-wide year-long celebration of India-Russia Diplomatic Relations, since April 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare organised two major events, an India-Russia Agriculture Business Summit held today in New Delhi and celebration of 70 years of Agricultural Relationship to be held in Suratgarh, Rajasthan on 14th February 2018.
Shri Gajender Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Mr Sergey Beletskiy, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Russia addressed the India-Russia Agriculture Business Summit 2018, held at PUSA, New Delhi. Several business houses and leaders of business associations of both countries, working in agriculture sector attended the event. This will strengthen exchange of expertise to further business ties between the two countries.
Apart from presentation by both countries that highlighted the agricultural trade opportunities, there was intense discussion in 4 theme sessions on potential areas of collaboration and trade in the fields of agriculture machinery; sanitary and phytosanitary measures (both plants and animals); agriculture education and biotechnology; fishery and sea products (including feeding, care and processing); and confectioner’s/baker’s, dry fruits and coconut products. The discussions were facilitated by officers of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
The Russian and Indian delegations will visit Central State Farm (CSF) in Suratgarh, Rajasthan on 14.2.2018, which was set up in 1956 with assistance from erstwhile USSR. Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Deputy Minister of Russia will inaugurate Russian Machinery Museum, address a gathering of farmers in which the veterans of the farm will be facilitated, and also visit Cattle Breeding Centre. Russian scientists helped in laying the foundation of agriculture in the deserts of Thar, which brought about a change in the agriculture farming in nearby areas including fringe area of Punjab.