Punjab plans strategic pact with Israel on agriculture

Punjab is mulling entering a strategic partnership with Israel to integrate cutting-edge agricultural technologies, especially for developing better seeds.

This was discussed at a meeting between Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Minister, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Israel, Fares Saeb here at the Punjab Bhawan on Monday.

Khudian said in a press note that the collaboration would focus on exporting foodgrain seeds to Israel, academic exchanges between Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, and Israeli institutions, exchanging citrus stocks and adopting advanced water-management technologies.

He said a key focus of the deliberations was introducing Israel’s precision “N-Drip” irrigation system, saving up to 70 per cent water and significantly reducing energy consumption. The state would also explore modalities to adopt Israeli expertise in treating and utilising sewage and village pond water for irrigation, mirroring Israel’s model where 95 per cent of treated wastewater is reused in agriculture.

Khudian stated, “The tie will be a visionary leap for Punjab’s farming community. It will merge Israeli innovation with our agricultural strength.”