Haryana to study Israel’s use of brackish water

April 13th, 2011 - 7:04 pm ICT by IANS  

Chandigarh, April 13 (IANS) Haryana will study Israel’s water conservation practices and the use of brackish water for agricultural purposes, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is leading an official delegation to the West Asian nation, said Wednesday.

Hooda, accompanied by senior officials, agriculture and horticulture experts, issued directions that a working group be formed to study Israel’s water conservation and agricultural methods.

Districts in south Haryana, like Fatehabad, Mahendergarh, Jhajjar, Mewat and Gurgaon, face water shortages. These areas also get brackish water.

A state government spokesman said in Chandigarh that Hooda visited the Arava International Centre for Agricultural Training (AICAT), Sheizaf water reservoir and an organic farm in Israel during his visit.

Hooda announced that the state government would train its agricultural and horticulture development officers, agricultural graduates and farmers at the AICAT. He said that training would be imparted in batchs of 25-40 students.

He said that the state government will also build a water reservoir on the pattern of Sheizaf water reservoir, which is spread over an area of four acres and has double layered plastic sheets to conserve water and avoid evaporation and algae.

“In Israel, the farmers are supplied water on a quota basis through this reservoir. Water in this tank is taken from various sources or bore-wells and mixed together and stored,” the spokesman said.

Hooda asked officials to work out projects to grow tomatoes and capsicum at organic farms. He also stressed the need to have polyhouse farming (cultivation inside modern greenhouses).

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