Israeli experts to aid drip irrigation system in Rajasthan

Sikar, May 16 (UNI) Experts from Israel will help implement the drip irrigation system in five districts of Rajasthan.

Flagging off the month-long Jal Chetna Yatra from here today, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announced that representatives from two big companies will be in Rajasthan during this yatra and will show ways to make the drip irrigation system more viable in the state.

She added that 100 specialists from the field of agriculture, irrigation, fishery, animal husbandry and rain-water harvesting will visit Israel soon to get an insight into how the systems work there.

She said Israel is a major exporter of ornamental fish and has weather conditions almost akin to Rajasthan. So it may be possible for the state to develop its fishery industry on the same lines as Israel.

Speaking about the Jal Chetna Yatra, Mrs Raje said around Rs 400 would be spent on the entire water campaign throughout the summer season in the state.

The Jal Chetna Yatra, which would be on till June 16 will cover 18,000 villages in the state, comprising 72 campaign chariots which will make villagers aware about the need for efficient use of water.

About one lakh water harvesting projects are to be constructed in the first phase of the yatra.

Around one lakh minikits of seed would also be distributed among the farmers by the agriculture department besides the soil examination card, which will evaluate the soil structure of a particular area.

Meanwhile, education minister Ghanshyam Tiwari who inaugurated the Kisan Mahotsav along with Jal Chetna Yatra from Jaipur, said the yatra should be seen as an opportunity to increase the earnings of farmers and solve the agricultural problems apart from conserving water.

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