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building through professional training programs to be
conducted both in Israel and in India.
It was established that the implementing partners will
be NHM–The National Horticulture Mission under the
Ministry of Agriculture of India and MASHAV- Israel's
Agency for International Development Cooperation
under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
To achieve the stated goals of the cooperation agreement,
it was decided to establish “Agricultural Centers of
Excellence, ”funded by both the Federal Government and
NHM and by individual State Government, that are also
responsible to allocate land and professional manpower.
Agricultural Centers of Excellence
The Centers of Excellence providea suitable platform for a
rapid transfer of technology to the farmers. Know how and
newagricultural technologies suchasprotectedcultivation,
drip irrigation and fertigation are demonstrated at the
centers with the aim to be adopted by the farmers. This is
donein order to increase their yields and productivity and
also to improve the quality of produce. This can result in a
positively impact the income of the farmers and market
prices, as well as introducing new varieties.
The Centers of Excellence are jointly set up according to
the requirements and needs of the Indian Government.
They address both small and large farm holders thus
offering a wide range of agricultural practices - from Hi-
Tech poly-houses to walking tunnels and net houses, in
order to enable all to benefit from the new technologies.
During the establishment and operation of those Centers,
the technologies and methods are adapted to the local
conditions and requirements of the farmers.
The basic concept of the Centers is based on a triangular
format: Applied research, SMS (Subject Matter Specialist)
Extension Officer and the Progressive farmer.
Applied Research
Applied research provides solutions to the farmers, such as
evaluating local fruits and vegetables varieties to find the
best performing solution in the given climatic conditions.
Seed production companies are requested to bring their
commercial varieties for a comparative test at the Center
which includes parameters such as yield, quality, and
tolerance to diseases. The Center will recommend the
best performing varieties for use by the farmers.
Another aspect of the applied research is to analyze the
efficiency of plant protection products and to adapt
advanced technologies to local conditions, pruning
periods, fertilization and irrigation.
The central and most important commercial and
professional activity of the Centers of Excellence is the
production of high-quality, healthy, virus and pest-free
saplings and plug seedlings. A high quality seedling is a
base for a healthy plant and high yield.
The goal is to expose the farmers to the highest quality
and to its benefits - so they will demand it from the
private nurseries. This process will elevate the quality
of the industry of sapling and seedling production.
Green Revolution
Israeli and Indian experts in Reddiyar Chatharam, Tamil Nadu. October 2013 Greenhouse in Karnal, Haryana
