New 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.