India and Mozambique sign agri-work plan for technical assistance

New Delhi, Nov 21 (UNI) India and Mozambique today signed a work plan for extending cooperation and technical assistance in the field of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries for the development of these areas in Mozambique.

Mr Mukesh Khullar, Joint Secretary (IC), Ministry of Agriculture and Dr. Carlos Pedro Mucavel, Director, Agricultural Development and Funds signed the Work Plan for India and Mozambique respectively.

The Work Plan was signed in the presence of Mr Kanti Lal Bhuria, Minister of State for Agriculture and Mr. Tomas Frederico Mandlate, Minister of Agriculture, Mozambique. The details of the Work Plan were finalied at a meeting between the delegation from Mozambique led by the Mr Mandlate and the Indian delegation led by Mr Bhuria.

A financial support of Rs 20 lakh has been allocated by MEA for the period ending 2007 to carry out activities included in the Work Plan between India and Mozambique.

Under the Work Plan 2006-07, DARE/ICAR have provided seven slots of short-term training programmes in their institutes for training of Mozambican experts.

However, only two Mozambican could participate in the training in ''IPM on cotton'' at Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur on September 17, 2006. The Mozambican side has not participated in other six training programmes despite rescheduling done by DARE from September to November to accommodate any possible later arrivals.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bhuria said the Government would be extending all possible cooperation and technical assistance in the field of agriculture, Horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries for the development of these areas in Mozambique.

A request for exporting Jatropha seeds to Mozambique is under consideration in consultation with National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).

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