Himachal wants to learn agricultural lessons from Israel
November 21st, 2009 - 6:00 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh is keen to learn the irrigation and agricultural practices of Israel to boost fruit and crop productivity in the hill state.
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who returned here Saturday from Israel after participating in a water management conference, said the state wanted to study technology related to sprinkler and drip irrigation.
“We do not have much scope for flow irrigation in the state. We will send a team to Israel to study sprinkler and drip irrigation technology,” Dhumal told IANS.
Israel’s area is less than half that of Himachal Pradesh but its per hectare productivity is higher. The chief minister, who visited some orchards in the Mediterranean country, said farmers were able to take yields in small time gaps.
He said the per hectare density of trees in Israel was between 1,000 and 1,500 and quality norms for fruits were quite stringent.
Dhumal, who was joined by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at the conference, said 10 companies had made a presentation to the two states.
Punjab has been fast witnessing a depletion of underground water. A report prepared by the Water Resources Ministry based on an assessment of 137 blocks in the state revealed that 103 blocks had over-exploited underground water.
- World Bank to give $37 mn more for Himachal watershed project - May 20, 2012
- Karnataka to give interest-free loans to farmers - Mar 21, 2012
- Centre approves National Mission on Micro Irrigation - Jun 10, 2010
- Himachal celebrates 42nd statehood day - Jan 25, 2012
- Himachal invites private investment in apple production - Nov 11, 2011
- Himachal in political spat with Delhi over dam project - Jul 21, 2011
- Coca-Cola, Jain Irrigation to showcase modern mango farming in Andhra - Jul 24, 2012
- Himachal invites private funds for food processing - Jun 12, 2012
- Himachal dam row spills to Delhi's fruit market - Nov 23, 2010
- Low yield in Asia's peach bowl fetches high price - Jul 10, 2011
- Himachal defers ban on gutka till October - Jul 17, 2012
- Himachal growth rate projected to dip to 7.6 percent - Mar 16, 2012
- States' demand for 'green bonus' legitimate: Ashwani Kumar - Apr 09, 2012
- Himachal to explore hot springs for power generation - Jan 13, 2012
- Karnataka plans farmer loans at one percent interest (Lead) - Feb 24, 2011
Tags: agricultural practices, badal, chief minister, crop productivity, density, drip irrigation technology, farmers, mediterranean country, New Delhi, orchards, prem kumar, quality norms, resources ministry, small time, state chief, time gaps, two states, underground water, water management conference, water resources